Hundreds march in Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dozens of people came together Friday night in downtown Orlando as part of a Black Lives Matter protest over the 60 percent murder rate increase in the Pine Hills area over the past few years.

The march started at 6 p.m. and went from Lake Eola to Callahan Park before heading toward the Orlando Police Department and then back to Lake Eola.

Organizer Stetia Allen told Channel 9 that she received some backlash for her activism leading up to the march.

Orange County deputies said they're investigating a possible hate crime after Allen reported that someone slashed her tires and left a racist note on her car.

“It’s disgusting,” she said. “It’s absolutely disgusting that people are still hateful.”

Allen said she won't let the incident affect her plans to march on Friday.

“I love my community," she said. "And my community has always taken care of me."

Protester Nicholas Leon said he decided to participate to show solidarity with the people struggling with crime in Pine Hills.

“They have a lot of things that they struggle with, so I just want to help them out,” he said.

Because the protesters did not have a permit, they had to keep the march on the sidewalks as they chanted and waved signs.

If the community comes together, real change can happen, Allen said.

“It’s time for us to stand together and actually uplift each other within the community,” she said.

Cox Media Group