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After the death of George Floyd, riots and protests have covered not only the United States but the world and local pastor Darryl Calloway said he is hurt and angry about the entire situation.

“I am hurt that an African American, or any American for that matter can be held down for almost nine minutes, saying that he can’t breathe and then die,” Calloway said. “I’m hurt because I am seeing injustice parading itself like a proud peacock against people of color, African Americans and women.”

Not only is he hurt, but Calloway said he is angry at the situation, as well.

“I’m angry because today, even in 2020, I still have to witness this,” Calloway said. “I have sons that I have to teach how to carry themselves so they don’t get hurt.”

In the past week, several riots involving looting have taken place in every single state in the United States. Calloway said he is hurt because Americans are focusing on the looting and riots and not focusing on the injustice.

“I don’t agree with the looting or the violence, but I do understand it,” Calloway said. “I don’t agree with it and I don’t condone it, but the reason I’m not out there doing the same thing is because I’m grown in knowledge and wisdom and my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am angry at the people looting, but I’m also angry at the media because they are focusing all on the violence and not why it is taking place.”

Even as an older black man, Calloway said he is still experiencing injustice.

“Even this past March, I was walking in my neighborhood in Montgomery,” Calloway said. “I walk in the mornings and the evenings in the middle of the road, to make sure that nobody thinks that I’m leaving a house or entering a house on the sidewalk. When I walk at night in my own neighborhood, I walk in the middle of the road because of the color of my skin.”

When Calloway speaks at the Andalusia Speaks Out! Protest on Saturday, he wants to convey a message of understanding.

“I encourage people to not just show up, but to do something to bring about a change,” Calloway said. “I don’t believe in meeting just to be meeting. Let’s do something to bring about change. What I’m asking is for you to look at the world through my glasses as a black man and for me to look through your glasses and both of us understand each other. We live in two completely different worlds and those two different worlds can come together, but it’s going to take understanding and honesty to come together.”