Peaceful protests were held in Mathews and Gloucester counties this past week, beginning with one in Mathews Court House last Wednesday (photo at left). On Friday, CircleUp Middle Peninsula held its protest on Gloucester’s Main Street (photo at right). Two additional protests were held in Gloucester on Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. The demonstrations were held to raise awareness of racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Anti-racism protests that spread across the nation in response to the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis made its way to this part of the Middle Peninsula last week, beginning with a march last Wednesday in Mathews Court House and culminating on Sunday evening with the largest crowd at a demonstration in Gloucester.

Despite rumors of people coming to disrupt the protests spread on social media, all of the observances were peaceful as people took to the street to decry systemic raci...