Salado

Kris Hunter, the head of security at a racial unity event Sunday in Salado, speaks about how his team works to protect every resident’s right to free speech.

SALADO — Samantha Burch said she was concerned about the lack of racial diversity in Salado during her family’s recent move from Killeen.

ā€œWe just recently moved to Salado from Killeen and our biggest concern was it’s so white,ā€ Burch said. ā€œAnd I’ve been really intentional about raising our kids in diverse neighborhoods ever since they were itty bitty.ā€

But Burch — who is white — said she was happy to see a flyer circulating on Facebook about an event titled, ā€œChange is here. No more hate, no more racism.ā€

Burch joined more than 100 people outside the Salado Civic Center on Sunday evening, discussing how to unite residents against racism.

ā€œI decided I wanted to take my kids, so that they could be a part of history … So they could see parents who are doing the right thing,ā€ Burch said. ā€œWe are living in a time where we cannot be mutual bystanders. We need to be anti-racist participants.ā€

Kim White grew up in a white neighborhood all her life, but has spent the past decade of her life engaged with the community of East Temple.

ā€œI clearly am white, but I have had the blessing of spending the past 10 years or so in the beautiful community of East Temple,ā€ White said. ā€œI have seen a lot of injustices with my own eyes … And my husband and I felt so passionately about this that we bought a house in East Temple and turned it into an organization that would be a safe place for kids to come to.ā€

That organization is the 4-1-1 House in East Temple, where White says children can build relationships with leaders in the community, have access to more resources and opportunities, and have an always-welcoming space.

White wants people to understand the beauty that comes with diversity.

ā€œWe have at least 50 boys right now that are a part of our program … And the cool thing is I get to know each and every one of them,ā€ she said. ā€œI get to see the beauty and the image of God they were made in. Diversity is beautiful, and we have a long way to go until we see that.ā€

Patrick Arryn Narvaiz, who has held peaceful unity protests in Temple and Belton, emphasized how the phrase ā€œwhite privilegeā€ doesn’t mean he hates nor dislikes white people.

ā€œIt’s me letting you know that from the foundation of America, black and brown people haven’t been considered a life,ā€ Narvaiz said. ā€œSo when we scream, ā€˜black lives matter,’ we understand that all lives matter. But at the moment black lives aren’t mattering.ā€

However, Narvaiz thanked God that racial tensions in the United States are not where they used to be.

Narvaiz extended his thanks to Kris Hunter, who led the event’s security detail.

ā€œOne of my main priorities with our services is the protection of our supporters and the protection of our opponents,ā€ he said. ā€œI am absolutely with those who disagree with me but I am still going to make sure that you get protected.ā€

Hunter, who said he learns something new at every event he attends, stressed how he is focused on protecting Americans’ freedom of speech.

ā€œThe movement that I’m in … we do this all over Texas. A lot of us are getting a bad rep and some of us aren’t. That’s fine,ā€ Hunter said. ā€œI may not be from Salado but I was born in Temple, I was raised in Waco, I was stationed in Fort Hood. Central Texas is a community and we have so much more in common than not. I want to make sure everybody’s free speech is protected.ā€

Nine-year Salado resident Jason Bonnett, who helped organize the event with Narvaiz, said there needs to be more conversations with Salado residents.

ā€œThe more conversations that we have with Salado residents the better,ā€ Bonnett, a teacher at North Belton Middle School, said. ā€œI absolutely know that black lives matter. This is a beautiful town with so much potential, and we are called to go deeper and confront our biases.ā€