Belfast — About 75 people, appropriately spaced, filled Post Office Square for over an hour Sunday afternoon with a series of speakers sharing their personal experiences with racism in Waldo County.

The peaceful 4 p.m. rally in support of Black Lives Matter was organized by Louisa Carl of Waldo, after her 13-year-old son Max Dubois' "Black Brown LGBQT Lives Matter Too" sign was defaced with a swastika last month in front of their home on Poors Mill Road. Carl's older son, Rio, 16, helped organize the event.

Speakers included parents and high school students, white and of color, describing incidents of racism, their concerns and fears, and calling for action.

"The time for racism in America is over," Carl declared in her closing remarks. She called on "white people" to "forget about" feelings of guilt, telling them instead to "Act! There are lots of things you can do!"

Some of the roughly 75 people listening to a speaker (obscured by tree branches) at a Belfast rally Sept. 13 to show support for Black Lives Matter and raise awareness of examples of racism in Waldo County. (Photo by: Carolyn Zachary)

Meredith Bruskin, FNP, of Swanville makes a point with her poster, later voicing it to applause during the rally Sept. 13 in Post Office Square. (Courtesy of: Betsy Headley)

Louisa Carl of Waldo delivers a call to action as the Black Lives Matter rally she organized drew to a close in Post Office Square, Belfast, Sept. 13. (Photo by: Carolyn Zachary)

Rally organizer Louisa Carl's son Max Dubois, 13, displays the yard sign he painted last month, which was defaced with a swastika after he posted it at his house on Poors Mill Road in Waldo. (Photo by: Carolyn Zachary)

(Courtesy of: Betsy Headley)

(Courtesy of: Betsy Headley)

(Photo by: Carolyn Zachary)