Keep Moving Forward

THIRD PLACE (9TH & 10TH GRADES) Rufus King, 9th Grade

The People “Keep Moving Forward” In his speech at Spelman College, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told the students that no matter what, it is important to move forward, and to strive for change. Keep moving forward means to strive toward a future where all people have equality, towards a time where having black skin is not a threat to those with white skin. I think that The People’s Revolution has been doing just that. The People’s Revolution was born from the people of Milwaukee coming together for justice for a man named George Floyd, who was brutally murdered by police. Since May 26, TPR has been working to dismantle racism in Wisconsin by peacefully protesting police brutality all over Milwaukee, and in white suburban and secluded communities such as Kenosha and Wauwatosa. If it weren’t for TPR, you would never hear the names Antonio Gonzales, Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson, whose lives were unjustly taken by officer Joseph Mensah. TPR has helped the people of Wisconsin to come together and fight inequality. TPR has also made it a priority for black voices to be heard, and that the want and need of the people is heard by government officials. TPR has used its following in the media to create a platform for black speakers to be heard, because it is important to TPR that the victims tell their story and not the media. to “keep moving forward”, this is a call to action. I have been a part of TPR, and I can confidently say that if MLK was alive that he would be a member of the TPR community. Stand up together and “keep moving forward” the way Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted us to. By now, TPR will have marched for over 170 days consecutively, and will have gained over 5000 members. This is also currently the longest running protest against police brutality in the United States. People marching with TPR have been harassed, kidnapped, and shot by police, and have still kept moving forward, will you?