The City of Stamford used protest art as a peaceful vehicle to stand against systemic racism as part of a Black Lives Matter event Sunday.

The event kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with a mindfulness meditation session, which was followed by an official opening ceremony at noon.

Later in the day, participants created works of art on the pavement with chalk.

"When things like this happen, it just makes you feel supported by your community," said Mia Wilson, a social worker from Stamford.

Organizers said it's all about bringing the community together through art.

Demetrius Glover founded SolHaus, an organization that teaches young adults how to enrich their lives.

"They started calling me the ‘N-word’ and riding in circles around myself and my brother and saying that we stink, saying that we were greasy," Glover recalled.

He said protests have pushed the movement this far, but now it's time to vote.

"We have to look around and understand that he who is least of us affects all of us," Glover added.