Whether they are getting pepper-sprayed on the front lines or are behind the scenes watching from home, African-American leaders in Columbus generally feel optimistic that the recent protests will make a difference.

It began a week and a half ago in Columbus with protests over the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man, after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck. Protesters have been calling since for an end to systemic racism.

Local leaders find hope in the breadth and diversity of the movement. And they stress that this could mean that unlike after previous deaths of black men, the calls for change will not fade quietly away this time. Read the full article here.