Main Street rally for Rodney Mitchell

Friends and family of Rodney Mitchell gathered Tuesday, June 11, in peaceful protest of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, one year after deputies shot and killed the 23-year-old following a traffic stop.

“I’ll be out here for a while,” said Natasha Clemons, Mitchell’s mother, as she clutched signs on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Main Street. Clemons, a registered nurse, said she doesn’t believe deputies were justified in shooting her son.

The Sheriff’s office and the State Attorney’s Office exonerated two deputies involved in the shooting in August.

At least 20 protestors joined Clemons in protest, eliciting honks from passing cars and more support on the intersection. Candice Martin saw the protest and stopped to join.

“I saw it, and I wanted to show support before going to work,” Martin said.