Education. Empathy. Black Lives Matter. Love. Unity. Vote.
Those were the messages activists hoped others at Morgantown’s Black Lives Matter protest took away from the marching and chanting Thursday.
It’s no longer a protest, but a movement, one attendee said.
“I think one big thing has been the vulnerability aspect,” said Kayza Massey, 19. “A lot of people have been able to be vulnerable with one another and I think showing that human side, showing that we all have empathy, we all cry, we all shed the same tears, we all bleed the same blood; that kind of aspect, that’s important and that’s what brought me out here.”
Vulnerability and education were on full display at Thursday’s peaceful gathering.
Hawa Diawara, 18, a black Muslim, shared with the crowd about how Morgantown High School silenced her during her time there. How she was painted as the mad black woman. About how she was made fun of for wearing her hijab.
And about how the faculty didn’t care.
“Elementary Schools are having the same problem,” said 12-year-old Taeshaun Laribl, who told the crowd he was bullied while attending North Elementary School. Going to teachers and the principal did nothing.
“And I could go to a teacher and say ‘hey, they’re making fun of me,’ and they don’t give any, they don’t give a crap about any of it,” he said. “I was so mad. All I wanted was to just make this stop.”
Around 200 people attended Thursday’s rally at its peak but for organizer Marcus Jones, 27, of Morgantown, it didn’t matter if only a few people showed up as long as the message of love, unity and Black Lives Matter was spread.
While the officers involved in the death of George Floyd have been charged, the movement has only just begun.
“I feel like to me, the point of this whole thing is equality, peace and justice,” 15-year-old Kiarra said. “That’s the whole goal. And I’m gonna keep fighting for my people until I get it regardless.”
There is another gathering planned for 3 p.m. today in front of the Monongalia County Courthouse and a large gathering is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday in front of the Mountainliar.
“We’re not gonna stop anytime soon,” Sammantha Norris said. “Until the day that our children can walk in the street and feel like police are there to protect them. Until the day we can get pulled over for a traffic ticket and not worry if we’re gonna die. Until the day that I don’t see children crying because their dads are dead. We’re not gonna stop.”
