New York: A massive march took place in New York City expressing support for black women and claim them at the forefront of the “revolution” that the US is experiencing after two weeks of anti-racist protests over the death of African-American men George Floyd at in police custody.
“With this march, we want to ensure that black women are at the forefront, that we are never forgotten again, that we are not forgotten in politics, that we are not forgotten in any type of reform that is attempted,” organizer, Sophie Pier-Michel, a young activist for the Strategy for Black Lives organization, told Efe news on Friday.
Pier-Michel, in front of dozens of people blocking midday traffic on Fifth Avenue, near a Trump Tower hidden behind scaffolding, fences, and police, encouraged “walking to break roofs and barriers” that prevent women from prospering black women and call for “justice” for victims of police brutality and systemic racism, such as young Breonna Taylor.
“Breonna, they broke into the wrong house and shot you. Until you have justice we will not stop marching,” another activist said in a ragged voice, recalling the 26-year-old Taylor who received eight shots from the police last March in Louisville (Kentucky), allegedly the product of confusion and during a search for drug trafficking.
“In this revolution, we are controlling the narrative as young people that we are, and we want to make sure that they listen to us and understand that we want to be successful, we want to live. We want to survive in this world, and we can only do it if (elected public officials) work with us Pier-Michel said on the margins of the march.
The activist noted that young groups like hers are “pushing agendas that only help black women” and that they recently went to Albany to “demand responsibility” from Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The march had a diverse call, generally young, and among its attendees stood out a group of workers in the retail sector wearing the red shirts with the initials of their union (RWSDU), who came to “add voices against the constant murder of people black”.
After nearly three hours of marching through the affluent Upper East Side of Manhattan, and in parallel to other scheduled protests in the city, protesters arrived with their posters and energy at the residence of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gracie Mansion, whom activists with their microphones asked to “protect their lives” so “one day they won’t have to leave anymore”.
