My last visit here last summer was epic – could it be topped. Probably not especially since Covid was raging and many restaurants were still closed. Thankfully, Pennsylvania had turned yellow so many eateries in Scranton, PA who were fortunate to have outdoor seating were happy to host guests.

Since indoor dining was non-existent, I decided to grab a brown bagger in front of the historic Lackawanna courthouse. Low 80’s and low humidity made for a picnic-perfect weather. There was free WiFi and I could just tap away on my laptop with squirrels climbing tall tree trunks and sparrows perched high on a leafy tree branch. I wasn’t alone. Little by little, I started seeing people gathering, many carrying colorful signs with witty language.

Oh, it’s Black Lives Matter – been on the road, I had missed the many protests in DC, many turning violent and explosive. How fortunate I could be here to witness this one.

I’ve had friends who tell me BLM is a farce. They claim that it’s just an excuse to riot against the police and the rule of law in the name of peace.

But saying “Black Lives Matter” is not saying that other lives do not. It actually recognizes that all lives do matter and that Black Americans are often unfairly targeted by businesses and law enforcement. Studies have shown that African Americans are often profiled and treated with deadlier force than Whites.

Black Lives Matter turned out to be a peaceful rally in front of the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Over 1,000 people attended this rally which including 8:46 mins of a moment of silence for George Floyd where many people lay on the ground. Many local activists spoke to the supportive crowd and some prayed with local leaders

Police brutality exists worldwide. It exists in Hong Kong where China is moving to end the region’s autonomy from communist rule. That’s why it’s refreshing to see people around the world joining the US in solidarity, chanting “Black Lives Matter”. And thankfully it was a peaceful protest so far with lots of motivating speeches.

Everything was clicking along without a hitch. Suddenly, a divisive truck with Trump signage made an unwelcome drive-by causing the protestors to erupt in mad chants.

After the rally a lot of protestors went to Levels to chill out. I visited the Radisson for happy hour then visited Halal Brothers food truck to order Lamb on Rice.