Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
‘WE NEED CHANGE’
Youth organizers lead Black Lives Matter rally through borough
A group of West Chester 16-year-olds organized and led a march and rally in support of Black Lives Matter Saturday morning. Teens Skyler Butcher, Diavanna Martinez-Parker and Seannetta Ray organized the march from the Charle A. Melton Arts and Education Center past the West Chester police station to the historic Chester County Courthouse.
The three are part of a youth organization called “Sanji Strong” which grew out of the shooting death of Eric “Sanji” Brown in April 10, 2018, at Star Social Club, following a dispute over a 3-3 basketball game earlier in the evening at
West Chester University South Campus basketball courts. Two brothers were convicted of the murder.
“I wanted to show the world that Black Lives are not just a thing that can go away. It’s always going be around,” said organizer Seannetta Ray. “Cops around here can be nasty sometimes. It depends which cop comes by. Some of them are really nice but some get an attitude with you.”
Diavanna Martin-Parker said she has seen fewer marches recently following the death of George Floyd and she felt the need to keep it an ongoing thing until things change.
“I think we need change and we’re not going to stop until it happens,” agreed Skyler Butcher.
The trio had spent weeks organizing the march and rally which included stops for water and a number of speakers. Around 75 protesters took part. Police officials monitored the march but organizers declined to have police in attendance.
“We are witnessing a true movement in this country and our community is part of making history. I love to see people engaged,” said West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin, who took part.
Asked about how the borough police handle community relations, she said they handle things well but there is always room for improvement. Herrin said there will be a mini-town hall to work on police relations and she praised people for having the courage for coming out and talking about how they feel.
Once the rally reached the courthouse, all the marchers stood in front of the Old Glory statue where they were welcomed by peace rally members who regularly meet weekly at the same site. Across High Street stood a different group of residents, who also rally every week in support of American troops. Those two groups have been coming out every Saturday for years. In a rare show of cooperation, the two groups alternate on which side of the street they will stand each week.
“I will protest with my dollars; I will protest with my vote. I will show up at my children’s school and ask of their teachers and board of directors what is being done to the curriculum (to accurately reflect the history of the nation),” said Jerece Loper of West Chester. “It is so important that we not let up. It is not the time to say ‘I am over it.’ It is not the time to say ‘I am tired.’ Guess what? Black and brown people have been tired for centuries. Black Lives Matter in Chester County!”
Not everyone seemed excited by the march; one older couple passed by a number of times making comments. At one point, the marchers laid on the ground or sat down for eight minutes to demonstrate how long George Floyd was restrained. As this was happening, the couple once again passed by and the woman was heard saying, “Don’t blame me if I step on you.”
During the rally, Skyler told a story at the rally about being stopped at a convenience store in town when he walked up to get a soda at 10:30 one night.
“There were policemen there. I was minding my business and they stopped to ask me my name and age because of my skin color,” said Butcher. “That’s not okay. That has to stop.”