...and of course, Black Lives Matter
I had the opportunity to attend one of six Black Lives Matter Protests held in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The rally in Lititz, PA was held on June 12. It was organized by a 17 year-old who recently graduated high school, Mikayla Mangome. She’ll be attending college with the goal of becoming a Civil Rights attorney. The protest she lead was inspiring. Here is the event as it unfolded though my eyes and through my lens.
The organizer, Mikayla Mangome, delvers an emotional speech addressing and thanking the protesters for fighting alongside her while demanding justice.
As I marched, I photographed the event, which included a hike down Main street to the State Senator’s office where the crowd of nearly 200 stopped to kneel and lay face down in the street for 8 minutes, 46 seconds as the organizers described what was happening to George Floyd in real time. During this time, we closed the streets. Instead of taking the detour, some of the drivers hurled insults. A lone motorcycle tried to drive into the crowd. Before police could react, five protesters, including Mikayla, ran over to stand directly in his path locking arms.
For 8 minutes and 46 seconds, an officer held his knee to the neck of George Floyd. So the protesters held the streets.
“If you chose to lay face down, just know - its not easy … but its even harder with a knee. On your neck. Killing you.” Some chose to kneel with fists raised, and in somber reflection.
The crowd looks at the scene created by the motorcycle rider.
I could hear him even from where I was despite the noise. A speaker said later to the crowd that the man was making threats, and if he were a black man, he would have been arrested.
Five protesters lock arms to form a human shield to block a motorcycle after he attempts to drive into the crowd laying in the street.
As we opened the streets again, several drivers made a scene. In particular, a man in a Jeep came dangerously close to hitting the organizer and other leaders. The organizer and others chased after him chanting as he yelled back at them. He parked his Jeep and began shoving an American flag in the faces of protesters. Undeterred, the protesters reorganized and marched back to Lititz Springs Park, the organized meeting place.
Police were mostly distant, giving the protesters the space we needed. Although, it did seem they were a little slow to deal with threats of violence by onlookers in vehicles.
Once back at the park, everyone gathered around a table being used as an impromptu soapbox. Mikayla addressed the crowd. She thanked everyone for standing alongside her in the fight and emphasized what she and hundreds of thousands of people across the country are demanding - an end to police violence, police reform and defunding, to address systemic racism in the police and prison, and for accountability for all police, especially those who Killed George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Then, she handed off the mic to give everyone the chance to speak. The crowd looked on and cheered. While another speaker was addressing the crowd, a work truck drove by slowly as the occupants yelled “All Lives Matter!” as they pointed at various people who were yelling back at them.
The theme with counter-protesters was anger and “All Lives Matter”.
After everyone got a chance to speak, we marched again.
Then, it was time to take the streets once more, except this time we closed down the main artery through the area - PA Route 501. We were greeted with honks and harassment. The driver of one large pick-up truck yelled from the intersection half a block away “If you’re going to lay down in the streets, I’m going to run you over!” as he revved his engine. The event security was on the scene before police. When the police got there, the man was asked to leave, and did so after four minutes of complaining to the cop about his right to travel without interference.
Again, the event organizers gave a narration of what was happening to George Floyd for the entire 8:46. They also acknowledged the harassment we were getting. “You hear that? They don’t want us here. They can’t even be bothered to not run us over if it means not facing the truth!”
But after everyone stood up, we stayed in the streets longer as speakers gave a powerful call for change.
The sun was low in the sky, but the fight continued. Police had to start directing traffic down a side street.
It was a powerful event. No one was injured, although there were definitely some tense moments. Thank you to Mikayla for organizing it and everyone who attended to demand an end to systemic racism, police brutality, and a complete overhaul of the police, and to demand justice for all the black Americans who have been victims of that system. Together, we can make it so there are no more George Floyds or Breonna Taylors or Trayvon Martins.
As a bisexual person, I recognize the importance that those with privilege play in a fight for equality. As a privileged white person, I feel it is my duty to stand up with black Americans, just as my brothers and sisters at Stonewall cast a rock into an ocean and made ripples that eventually turned into a tidal wave. And that wave still builds to this day. I am proud to be a part of the wave that will bring down white supremacy and erode the foundations of racism in this country alongside anyone who will fight with us.
Because of course Black Lives Matter.
