Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
A SHARED STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Peaceful demonstrations in Coatesville and West Chester call for ‘Peace, Justice and Humanity’
Eight thousand voices spoke in unison: Make no mistake about it, black lives matter.
Within hours of each other, Thursday rallies in Coatesville and West Chester attracted Chester County demonstrators hoisting signs, taking a knee and chanting, “eight minutes.”
West Chester held its event at sunset while the City of Coatesville march took off down Lincoln Highway, en route to City Hall, at noon.
Protesters rallied in support of equality for all and criminal justice reform in
America.
The crowd noise in West Chester generated by approximately 5,000 demonstrators — those starved from the absence of a live audience since March because of the pandemic shutdown — was deafening and startling.
The borough’s evening March for Peace,
Justice and Humanity started at Borough Hall, with demonstrators blocking Gay Street along the way, and eventually a block of High Street at the Historic Courthouse. The marches in Coatesville and West Chester marked the senseless death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, at the hands of police.
Lillian DeBaptiste was the first speaker. She noted that everyone present could breathe.
“America is in the midst of a revolution and each of us must be the change,” DeBaptiste said. “It doesn’t matter which path you take, but take one, dammit.”
Mayor Dianne Herrin said she has recently heard much. She said that Americans have an “opportunity for change.”
“The more I’m told the more I see — to really see,” Herrin said.
Several times, reverend, NAACP president and state Senatorial candidate Kyle Boyer implored the crowd to turn to a neighbor and voice, “Do better.”
“It took some energy to get here today…but this is not the hardest part… doing something is the hardest part,” Boyer said. “When you know better, we can do better.”
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th, told the audience, overheated both physically and emotionally on a steamy, humid evening, that they had to work together.
“We are getting in good trouble and we’re getting in the way,” she said. “We need to respect every human.
“Feel uncomfortable, feel awkward? It’s okay.”
Michelle Roberson lost her two children. Bianca Roberson was murdered in June of 2017. Roberson told the audience that she was angry that her daughter was killed because of the color of her skin.
“Anger is one of the catalysts of change,” Roberson said.
Borough Police Chief Jim Morehead said that he and fellow officers could not believe the film footage of Floyd’s murder.
“We hold our officers accountable,” Morehead said about preserving the peace in West Chester. “We can agree that George Floyd should not have died.
“You have my word that what you witnessed in Minneapolis will not happen in West Chester.”
Fredda Maddox is the first African American elected sheriff in Chester County. She noted that the need for restorative justice and criminal justice reform.
“It’s a collaboration,” she said. “We have to work together.
“It’s a dialogue folks, it’s give and take.”
The marchers were out for anything other than a quiet evening stroll.
Sarah Wagner of East Goshen carried a sign that read, “No justice, no peace, this is AmeriKKKa.”
“I’m passionate about change and I’m here to show my support as an ally,” she said.
Roland Jennings, of West Chester, lambasted the president.
“Donald Trump does not get it,” Jennings said. “He was raised not knowing about decency and manners and grew up in an atmosphere where everyone was rich.
“He doesn’t know what the blacks go through.”
West Goshen resident Jaden Howe carried a sign which read:, “Silence is violence.”
“Black people are being killed and that’s not okay,” Howe said.
Hours before the West Chester event, thousands of people united in the City of Coatesville. Citizens held a peaceful demonstration, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, for equality, justice and human rights.
Marchers called for the overcoming inequity in American society.
One marcher said it is most important to address racial profiling as citizens across the nation and around the world call for systematic criminal justice reform in America and the end of police brutality against African Americans.
Following the march which began at Double D Diner on Lincoln Highway, marchers rallied outside City Hall.
State Rep. Dan Williams, D-74th, of Sadsbury, said a prayer as everyone took the knee in solidarity for the Black Lives Matter quest and in honor of people who have lost their lives from police brutality, like George Floyd on March 25 in Minnesota.
Floyd’s death while in police custody sparked millions of people to hold demonstrations around the nation and world since last week. Over the weekend, there was rioting in Philly.
Across the city, the voices of peaceful demonstrations called for change. Compared to Kennett Square and West Chester boroughs, the majority of people at the Coatesville event were African Americans.
Families. Neighbors. Friends. United. After protesters marched through the streets, they gathered outside the Coatesville Police Station and City Hall, where several people of color spoke to those in attendance about their past experiences with racial profiling and police brutality. One man said he’s lost count of how many peers are in jail today.
Approximately three thousand people listened while on their knees to Williams. He said God called on people to live in a way of justice, peace and equality.
The Pennsylvania House representative then cited Martin Luther King Jr.
“Peace is not the absence of tension. It is the presence of justice,” King said.
Williams is the senior pastor at the New Life in Christ Fellowship church in Coatesville.
Police Chief Jack Laufer and Sgt. Rodger Ollis were present at the rally. The local law enforcement thanked the event organizers for bringing together people and delivering “a message that needs to be heard.”
Justice. Now. For all people. “Black Lives Matter,” the people chanted.
The march and rally were organized by young people from Coatesville, including Ruqaiyah Young and P.J. Evans
Young said it was amazing to march through the streets and get the community involved.
“As we started going down blocks, more and more people were coming out of their houses, and people were coming out with signs,” she said. “Some people were jumping in, people were throwing water bottles into the crowd. I feel like everyone was very supportive of the entire movement.”
Young cited a lack of accountability for police officers as a cause of inherent issues in police departments.
“Until everyone’s held accountable, then there’s not going to be any change. And our police aren’t held accountable,” she said. “Medical staff get their licenses revoked when they do something wrong, just like lawyers, and every other field there’s a sense of accountability, and there seems to not be one instilled in the police department, so it needs to change.”
Evan’s said it was time for Coatesville’s voice to be heard.
“People are angry here, rightfully so, about the situations of injustice from the police across the country,” he said.
Evans said it was important to make sure it was a peaceful event, and he’s proud of the City of Coatesville and its people. The event was successful with great turnout, no rioting or looting, and full support from the local police, he said.
“I hope it helps change the narrative of people’s negative perceptions on Coatesville because this is not a scary place,” Evans said.
Members of Coatesville City Council were also present.
Newly elected Coatesville City Councilwoman Nydea Graves spoke at the rally.
She mentioned that actionable items are coming out of this protest, such as efforts to reduce the local prison population and end the practice of cash bail in Chester County, goals which a community organization called Chester County Stands Up is fighting for.
As the sunset in West Chester on Thursday, change was in the air. Thunderstorms soon ensued.