A group of about 50 onlookers cheered Friday morning as Warren Town Council president Keri Cronin and resident Dyshell Palmer raised the Black Lives Matter flag in front of town hall.

“It is an important thing to do,” Ms. Cronin said just prior to the raising. “It is a philosophy and ethos that we all need to take into our hearts, and treat each other respectfully and equally and fairly.”

Councilors voted unanimously earlier this month to fly the flag, following a request by Church Street resident Camille Nixon. Though Ms. Nixon did not speak at the event, Ms. Palmer, the organizer of a recent Black Lives Matter march in Bristol, did.

“This is awesome,” she said. “Let’s continue this movement. This is just a start. This is a marathon, this is not a sprint. Let’s pace ourselves. This is one step closer to our ultimate goal; that’s our next generation, so they can feel comfortable in their own skin and be proud of who they are with no judgement. "

The council will decide how long the flag will fly at its meeting next Tuesday. councilors have pledged it will also fly every February in honor of Black History Month.