PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — You might not know Presque Isle’s Todd Russell. But if you’ve driven in the Star City on a Saturday morning the last few months, chances are you’ve seen him.
Since the death of George Floyd — a Black man — during an arrest by Minneapolis Police in late May, Russell has been a consistent presence at Black Lives Matter protests held Saturday mornings across from the Aroostook Centre Mall on Main Street.
Those protests have often featured several members of We the People of Aroostook — a group of Aroostook County activists. But on some days, such as last Saturday, Russell has been the only protestor: dutifully walking around with his yellow “Justice BLM” sign in front of passing cars. Many honked in support on Saturday, while one man yelled a phrase praising President Donald Trump.
The summer has brought thousands of protests against racism and police brutality across the United States, from New York City’s dense streets to smaller rural communities like Presque Isle, a city where public support for conservative candidates and ideas is common. While the demonstrations are primarily associated with young people, they have featured participants of all ages and races.
The series of Black Lives Matter protests is not the first foray into mass movements for Russell, 77, a former physical education professor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and a Vietnam War veteran. He said he had supported social justice his entire life, including participating in rallies against the Iraq War in Montana in the early 2000s.
Russell views standing up against oppression, even when standing alone, as a duty in the face of apparent racial injustice. He said being white only made that responsibility feel more critical.
“It’s the only thing I can do,” Russell said. “Use free speech to make a sign and walk up and down the road here.”
What brought Russell out on Saturday was the shooting of Jacob Blake — who is Black — by police as they attempted to arrest him in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23. The shooting — which is believed to have permanently paralyzed Blake — set off a new round of protests and unrest across the country.
Russell said the video of the incident made him ill, and that shooting Blake was “totally unnecessary,” as he posed no danger to the officers. An officer shot Blake multiple times in the back as the man opened the door to his car.
Russell acknowledged that many see such incidents of police brutality differently. While the recent Democratic National Convention heavily showcased the Black Lives Matter movement and police reform efforts, the protests received scant mention in the Republican National Convention besides the violence that has occurred during them in cities like Portland.
“It’s amazing how people can see the same thing and come out with two different points of view,” Russell said. “Abuse and subjugation of African-American people or people with darker skin — it’s been happening for 400 years.”
No matter what the trends are, Russell said he would continue to be a presence in Presque Isle to get his message out there during the country’s “watershed moment” on race.
“You have to care about it,” Russell said. “I could take this sign and lean it up against a phone pole, and sit in a chair. But it just seems more authentic if I walk back and forth.”
