People in Westport came together Friday to stand up against police brutality during a peaceful protest downtown near Parker Harding Plaza.

Students at Staples High School organized the demonstration.

Their message was to demand change and to hold police accountable.

Protesters said equal justice under the law and achieving greater diversity is a long overdue conversation in Westport and other suburbs.

Melissa Kane, member of the Westport Board of Selectmen, said change is happening.

“We as a suburban, very affluent community, we're making a commitment to really working on this change, to really listening, and to really doing what it is that we are learning we have to be doing to create a change in the system that has to happen. It’s been far too long that we've had a system that oppresses people based on racial basis,” Kane said.

State Sen. Will Haskell, who also attended the protest, said conversations are now underway on how lawmakers can pass police accountability legislation during the special session.