Protestors March Through Village And Close County Road 39 On Friday

It was, perhaps, a story of two villages. There were outdoor diners, motorists passing through and vacationers promenading. But also present was a large contingent of protesters for Black lives. A march in Southampton Village Friday evening showcased both on the same street.

While many summer revelers relaxed under the evening sky enjoying outdoor meals at village restaurants, hundreds of young people protested, decrying systemic racism and police brutality. The more than two-hour march culminated with the shutdown of County Road 39, demonstrations in front of the Southampton Village Police headquarters and confrontations with restaurant-goers.

The route for the Juneteenth march, which was organized by Long Islands United Youth, was the longest thus far on the East End. Junteenth is the annual recognition of the end of slavery in the United States on June 19.

By 6:30 p.m., demonstrators that had gathered in Agawam Park formed a circle — attempting to maintain social distancing — and listened as a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation addressed the crowd while marching around the circle.

“The frequency in our voices heals everything, but we have to do it together,” the member, who declined to provide her name, said. “When Black lives are killed, who takes care of the voiceless?”

Following the lead of Long Islands United Youth member Trevon Jenkins, 19, of Southampton, protesters, signs in hand, then marched up Jobs Lane, escorted by a black unmarked village police SUV. Village Police told The Press in a Wednesday phone call that they worked with organizers.

The route consisted of two parts. The first segment passed through Main Street, Jagger Lane, Windmill Lane, then continued onto North Sea Road. Protesters then blocked traffic on County Road 39 for approximately 20 minutes.

Mr. Jenkins said the County Road 39 shutdown was not coordinated with police. “We informed [the police] we would be walking to 7-Eleven, but what we were doing there, no,” Mr. Jenkins said.

Protesters ran into the highway intersection before quickly filing into crosswalks — a strategy Mr. Jenkins employed to “be legal.” Traffic quickly formed on both the eastbound and westbound lanes of County Road 39. The group then took a knee in silence, facing the stopped traffic for 8 minutes 46 seconds.

During the protesters’ silence, cars aggressively honked as some motorists objected to being stopped. From a tan Jeep Wrangler on North Sea Road, two passengers rolled down their windows and held their fists up in a sign of solidarity.

In the second part of the march, protesters moved south on North Sea Road before turning onto Windmill Lane again. Protesters then continued up Nugent Street, onto Main Street and back down Jobs Lane to conclude the march.

On a busy Friday night, the mostly white restaurant-goers throughout the village came face-to-face with a diverse crowd of young protesters. Some dining on sidewalks recorded those who were protesting.

Mr. Jenkins, bullhorn in hand, wove in-between restaurant tables, demanding diners join the march. Some protesters also chanted “your silence is violence” while passing through the restaurants.

A crowd of marchers paraded through the sidewalks hosting outdoor dining sections. At 75 Main, many diners laughed or tried to ignore the march after the restaurant’s owner tried to shew away protesters to no avail. Patrons at Le Charlot clapped in solidarity.

On Friday, Mr. Jenkins implored demonstrators to “Make this town uncomfortable,” before passing customers at local eateries.

On the march’s first pass through Main Street, protesters briefly paused in the crosswalks of the Main Street and Hampton Road intersection, repeating “Black Lives Matter,” and “Breonna Taylor.”

On Windmill Lane, protesters confronted the Southampton Village Police Department headquarters, barricaded by temporary steel fencing. In both the first and second segments of the march, protesters stopped in front of the station, chanting at officers, before laying on their stomachs for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on the pavement.

After the march, protesters gathered at Agawam Park, and, for a fourth time, laid for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Three young Black women stood and sang an a cappella rendition of what is considered by many a Black national anthem: “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Protesters dispersed after, and the organizers urged them to leave their name, email address or phone number to join Long Islands United Youth. Mr. Jenkins further urged participants to vote in Tuesday’s election.

Police sent a community alert at 2:35 p.m. Friday over text message and email advising motorists to “avoid the Business District and the North Sea Road area,” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Several officers at the scene declined to comment, and Southampton Village Police Detective Sergeant Herman Lamison, the department’s spokesman, did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

“We asked [the police] to monitor us and be there for us. I can’t tell you why the State Troopers were there,” Mr. Jenkins said.