Saturday night MLK rally planned in Castro

A Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend protest is planned in San Francisco’s Castro District Saturday night.

The rally is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. at 18th and Castro streets, according to an organizer. The event is planned to coincide with nationwide MLK Jr. Weekend protests and in solidarity with the #blacklivesmatter campaign.

Organizers of the event representing those who self-identify as queer and trans people of color said the goal is to “shut down business as usual.” An organizer declined to provide further details about what action demonstrators would take and if the rally would remain peaceful. A

9:30 p.m. speaking event is planned in the heart of the neighborhood known for its gay community. The Castro was chosen because organizers said it represents a space dominated by white middle-class men and the racial divide within the LGBT community, along with gentrification in The City.

In a release sent tonight, organizers said the group has four demands, some directed at San Francisco LGBT organizations, such as increased support for black lives and more donations to organizations that support “queer and trans black leadership.”