Kenosha activist named ‘Guardian of Year’
Porche Bennett-Bey on cover of Time
Four months ago, Porche Bennett Bey was in the streets of Kenosha, the city she grew up in, protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police offer Rusten Sheskey.
A photo from the night of Aug. 25 shows Bennett-Bey, a mom and U.S. Army veteran, holding a sign at a protest in Kenosha that read “Black Lives Matter.”
She stood her ground and didn’t say a word.
She got tear gassed and pepper balled by police. She was nearly hit by water bottles and fireworks by protesters.
But she stood her ground hoping her example of protest would lead others to do the same.
Since the most intense nights of the Kenosha protests, Bennett-Bey hasn’t stopped organizing for change in her community.
On Thursday her hard work was recognized. Time magazine put her on the cover as part of its “People of the Year” project. She was named “Guardian of the Year” with Assa Traoré and racial justice organizers.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were both named 2020’s “Person of the Year.”
The article and video highlighted the work done by Bennett-Bey and other activists around the country that are striving for racial equity.
The cover art is by Bisa Butler, who created a quilted portrait of Bennett Bey.
The cover image was a surprise. Bennett-Bey’s friends would joke that she would be on the cover, and she repeatedly told them, “No. I’m not going to be on the cover. I’m just going to be in an article in the magazine, I’m probably going to be towards the end of it anyway.”
When she went on Time magazine’s website Thursday night, she was shocked.
“I dropped my phone,” Bennett-Bey said.
Bennett-Bey said she had mixed emotions about being on the cover.
She’s happy the movement is being recognized at a national level, but she has received death threats from her work in activism.
“This life is a blessing and a curse,” Bennett-Bey said.
“The world recognized me so I got to keep pushing, I got to keep going, I have to keep doing the work that I’m here to do and make good change. Good, positive, change.”
Bennett-Bey wants to meet the other activists included in the story who are also trying to make changes in their communities.
“The world is seeing the change,” Bennett-Bey said.
“I don’t like that it had to come to this for the world to see, but sometimes it’s got to rain and storm before you get beautiful flowers.”
Bennett-Bey said being recognized only motivates her to keep going.
“I am still Porche Bennett-Bey, the girl from Kenosha who’s an activist,” Bennett-Bey said.
“This pushes me to go harder. I want others, especially women, to not be afraid to your voice and use it for the good and be a part of this change.”