SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Just an hour after the body camera footage of Sonya Massey's shooting death was released to the public, hundreds took to the streets in support of her family. 

The peace march and subsequent rally was hosted by Intricate Minds and provided food, drinks, face painting, musical entertainment, and free haircuts. The rally provided a space for the community to lean on each other for support and to remember Sonya's legacy.

Protester and 13-year-old Alfred Dixon said that he had played with Sonya's children and had the pleasure of meeting her.

"She was the nicest person I knew. She was just very loving, inviting me to her home." said Dixon "She loved everyone. In [just] a short amount of time, she loved you already."

Reggie Guyton, a Springfield resident and frequent protester at the "Stand with Sonya Rallies" said that it was powerful to watch his community unify for a common cause to make a positive difference. "It's amazing how the community can come together and really just take the collective grief that we're feeling and then do something with it."

Guyton said that continuing their peaceful protests has been vital in making change happen. "We've been able to defy expectations of what mourning looks like, of what grieving looks like. And, the expectation that we would be violent in the face of violence. And, I think it really does set a tone and an example for who we are and what we can be."

Faith Perry, Dixon's cousin, said that showing up and showing out to support the Massey family and demanding change could be the start of  bigger movement.

"It gives me faith. It gives me hope that we can and that there can be a change." Dixon agreed with her, saying "If if the change is small or big either way, we just want change."

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