Aryanna Hunter admitted she wasn’t sure what to expect Sunday after she organized a peaceful Black Lives Matter support walk through Murrysville.
But after the three-hour event, Hunter said she was astonished with the turnout and support.
“I thought I might be the only woman standing on a corner by myself, but we had well over 100 people marching with us today. I’m just blown away,” Hunter said.
An Army veteran, Hunter is the youngest of 10 children in a racially mixed family and wanted to raise awareness in her hometown about racial and social injustice. She works as head of the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Veteran Services.
Also participating in the march was Lee Wagner of Murrysville, a veteran of the Iraq War.
“It’s important as community members that we show compassion for the treatment of all living beings and make sure all peoples’ voices are heard,” Wagner said.
Police from multiple communities assisted with traffic control during the walk and messaged motorists in advance to avoid both Old William Penn Highway between Andrews Lane and Cline Hollow Road, and Route 22 between Tarr Hollow and Cline Hollow roads between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, the march wrapped up early at 1 p.m. at the entrance of Giant Eagle.
Murrysville Police Sgt. Scott Kettren said he heard of “no problems” during the event.
