Connecticut crowds join national Black Lives Matter movement
Vanessa Williams, left, carries a sign that says “Don’t Shoot” to the Hartford protest. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Williams.
Across all 50 states, #BlackLivesMatter protests were held to honor the life of George Floyd – who lost his life to police brutality five days prior – including one in Hartford, Connecticut. Floyd, who was unarmed, had been pulled over by four Minneapolis Police officers for a counterfeit bill. “I can’t breathe” were Floyd’s last words as Derek Chauvin, one of the officers, knelt on his neck while arresting him, resulting in his death.
“Before, it was just a hashtag you saw on T-shirts and it kind of died down. Now, with everything that’s going on, on top of COVID people are not afraid to speak up,” said Vanessa Williams, a graduate student at the University of Connecticut.
The #BlackLivesMatter movement is a push for change, justice and support for the Black community around the world. It was originally created on July 13, 2013 after George Zimmerman, the police officer who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was acquitted of all charges. Martin was unarmed and had been returning to his home after visiting family members. The movement grew out of the resulting uproar.
Protesters in Hartford wore all black, including many of their face masks for protection against COVID-19. The protesters chanted, “We want justice, we can’t breathe,” as they marched from Bulkeley High School to Bushnell Park. Police officers guided protesters as they marched through Downtown Hartford and blocked off many streets. Upon entering the park, those marching were greeted with water bottles.
Above is Kashmir Flood at the Connecticut State Capitol building.
With nearly 2,000 people in attendance, the peaceful protest brought people from many different backgrounds together outside the State Capitol. “[The protest] showed me the value of the community coming together to speak and unite against this pattern of injustices within our community,” said Kashmir Flood, a recent graduate from Assumption College.
No arrests were made at the Hartford protest. “I did see white folks vandalizing a building, but I don’t consider them a part of the protest since we had a non-violent protest,” said Nayeli Rivera, an undergraduate student at the University of Connecticut. However, one police officer was spotted with a sniper on the roof of a building.
Although the protest brought unity in one community, it also drew attention to the performative activism of many white and non-Black people of color. Hartford protestors voiced their opinions on how their white friends and colleagues could help them during this time. “Your work does not stop once you've uploaded a picture saying that you went to a protest. You need to find other ways to get involved and educate others as well. People assume that to be involved with Black Lives Matter you have to be a person of color and that’s not true,” Flood said.
Becoming an ally to any marginalized group of people requires research, understanding and delicacy. “It’s something that white individuals need to educate themselves on. Read an article, listen to a podcast, try to educate yourself before you speak on these issues ... This is how you can avoid being ignorant,” Rivera said.
“You need to call out people in your family and friend group [who] are racists and who say racial slurs,” Williams said.
Hofstra University’s Office of Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion and the Dean of Students hosted a virtual event called “Allyship 101 For Non-Black Folks” on Thursday, June 4, to help faculty members, staff and students learn effective ways to acknowledge and reach out to their Black peers when these acts of violence occur. Another event by the Multicultural Fraternity and Sorority Council held on June 15 will provide a similar sentiment: “Hear Me NOW! Black Lives Matter” will be held as a panel to discuss more ways to effective allyship.
