It started on a sobering note. At Thursday night’s Black Lives Matter demonstration in St. Petersburg, protesters were not only remembering those Black lives lost at the hands of law-enforcement, but now also remembering two demonstrators who were gun down in Wisconsin earlier this week.

A 17-year-old boy stands accused of the killings.  

“It’s really nerve-racking, and it’s really difficult,” said protest organizer Ashley Green. “We couldn’t even gauge the turnout for tonight because people are stressing and fear for their safety.”

It was a modest crowd of demonstrators that gathered in front of City Hall. Greene says she and other demonstrators have been getting death threats all summer. 

“We’re out here because we have to be”, Green said.

“We’re out here because people keep dying, and there’s injustice for their lives.”

And despite the added sense of danger, other demonstrators said they were determined to march. 

“I can’t comfortably live my life until I know that my brother and sisters of color can live happily,” Dakota Tyo said. “And so I will happily put my life on the line knowing that I’m giving them a chance, and I’m hoping that’s what this is leading to. That’s why I’m here.”