Close to 20 people participated in the ninth consecutive, weekly non-violent protests in Jefferson at the Greene County Courthouse Tuesday.

Co-organizer Dale Hanaman began the event by asking a series of questions and made statements about standing up not only for the Black Lives Matter movement, but to focus on those individuals that “don’t count.” Hanaman spoke about the insecure people in Greene County and asked the participants to form a committee to address these local issues through various outlets including school boards and county board of supervisors.

Jefferson resident Rhett Brown has participated in a few of the weekly demonstrations and explained why he continues to be a part of the protests.

“Well I guess I believe in the goals. A lot of it has to do personally with Dale. He’s out here and I guess I feel that people who stand up should have people supporting them, and his cause is a good cause.”

As a reminder, the protests will continue every Tuesday at noon at the courthouse in Jefferson.