Seaside and Salinas march to end “racial tensions”

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION)A solidarity march is set to take place today to put an end to what community members call a decades-long rivalry between Black and Latino groups on the Central Coast.

One group is meeting at Seaside High School at 11 am and another group is meeting at the Foods CO parking lot at 9 am to begin the march.

The march is organized by the Monterey County Black and Brown Coalition and organizers say they were inspired by the recent Black Lives Matter protests across the country.

One organizer is a Seaside resident who described fights and tensions at her schools growing up.

"We didn't welcome them with open arms and neither did they," says Tinisha Dunn.

Another organizer is Artis Smith, a pastor from New Hope Baptist Church in Salinas.

He says getting the groups together is about more than keeping the peace, but also to make a difference in the foundation of the country.

"We have the same injustices as the brown people have, we have the same disparities, we can change the system," says Smith.

Both organizers say the groups will meet for a rally at CSU Monterey Bay to encourage everyone in attendance to get out and vote.

To find out more, follow @mcsc831 on social media or call (831) 287-6849.

You can also email mcsolidaritycoalition@gmail.com