‘GET ON BOARD’
Black Lives Matter supporters rally in Glenolden
GLENOLDEN » Nasty threats on social media did not escalate into real-life battles as the latest Black Lives Matter rally stepped off peacefully from Glenolden Park Saturday afternoon.
More than 200 people turned out for the rally which was organized by two area women, Taylor Shiflett of Sharon Hill and Ashley Dolceamore of Glenolden.
Leading up to the event, organizers had faced harassment on social media including threats of attacks by baseball bats, by spray with pressure hoses, or being run over if they protested in the street.
“It’s not been a fun time,” said Dolceamore. “These were just crazy racist residents.”
The peaceful rally began in Glenolden Park on a warm, steamy day. Many of the protesters sought out the shade of majestic trees in the idyllic park, as speakers stepped up to urge change.
“We want you all to understand that together we can destroy the system of racism,” said Khalil Streeter of Chester. “Racism is ingrained in this nation. So when we say Black Lives Matter, it’s a direct attack on the system of this nation that is designed to repress us and keep us down.”
Streeter used the disparity of educational opportunities between schools he has attended - Strath Haven and Chester high schools as an example of how systemic racism keeps Black people down. Funding to poorer Black schools penalizes poor Black children.
Sheila Carter, Darby area NAACP President and a former Darby Township police officer, questioned both police training as well as racism on the force. She said residents have been fortunate not to have had any police killings in Delaware County, but there are police officers who are still racially profiling and disrespecting African Americans.
“It goes back to training, and there is racism. It’s straight up that there is a lack of respect for the Black man and the Black community,” Carter said.
She questioned why police monitoring the protest were standing back at the top of the hill instead of joining in as part of the community.
“We’re not a threat to them. We’re a part of them and they are here to protect us,” said Carter. “One of the things we need to get back to is community policing. The police need to be more involved in your community.”
State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-8 of Philadelphia, called on protesters to get loud. He also urged protesters to vote and to hold those in office to account.
“The train of change is here - get on board!” exhorted Williams. “You do have to explain why Black Lives Matter, even to some Black folks… If you want raise that flag, say you’re patriotic and you’re an American, it means life, liberty and justice - for all of us! It’s not for Republican Americans, it’s not for privileged Americans, it’s for all Americans.”
For a number of the protesters this was their first Black Lives Matter event, including Danielle Delgrego of Morton.
“It’s tiring to watch all of this continue to happen,” said Delgrego, who said she doesn’t like large crowds but felt compelled to attend. “I’m happy to see our small town rally to organize this.”
Stephen Williams of Collingdale was also attending his first protest. “To me, ever since Black Lives Matter, I try to support our community,” said Williams. “I love people in all regards, and I love my community. Why didn’t they just take him (George Floyd) in alive? To die over a counterfeit $20 bill, it’s crazy.”
“I don’t want any trouble,” said Joe Hart of Glenolden who was out in the park ahead of the rally. He was concerned the protests might lead to damage in his hometown like the destruction he saw in Philadelphia after some of the protests there. “As long as they are peaceful, it’s their constitutional right to do it.”
A small number of men opposed to the march stood across from the borough library as the rally played out across the park. Asked if they were a counter protest, Joe DePaul of Glenolden said more or less.
“I’m sorry, I can’t deal with a racist group like that. They are more racist than anybody I know,” said DePaul. “All lives matter, I don’t care if you are
Black, white, Asian, Spanish, Native American. The police officer in Minnesota was wrong, he needs to pay for that.”
DePaul asked why there isn’t outrage and aren’t marches for the children of Philadelphia who were killed on the street. “Toddlers, some of them,” DePaul said, “one girl shot in her bed in her bedroom.”
DePaul asked why suspects resist police and said everyone should follow the law. He also pointed out the rally was taking place without a required permit. Organizers confirmed they refused to sign the permit, based on their lawyers’ advice. They said they did send the borough all other
information it requested.
“We have the right to protest,” said Shiflett. “They did ask us to go through that process, but the way the document was written up, we declined.”
Once the rally was over, protesters marched around the borough from MacDade Boulevard to Chester Pike, where they stopped for a few minutes, then continued on to the police station.
At the police station, the protesters knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck before he died.
Dolceamore said their complaint was not with the Glenolden police department - it was symbolic.
According to Kelvin Floyd of Secane, “It’s overdue and needed. Hopefully it’s not just something to do. It’s a meaningful thing and we can move forward from here.”
Floyd added he has a number of family members who are police officers. “It’s nothing against police. It’s against bad policemen - not even police, racists period,” he said.