‘NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE’
Thousands attend peaceful Rally for Black Lives in Collar City
TROY, N.Y. » A crowd of thousands gathered at Riverfront Park for a peaceful Rally for Black Lives on Sunday afternoon. The rally was co- sponsored by Justice for Dahmeek, AYA Rising Project, All Of Us, and the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region.
Rallies have taken place nationally for more than a week, sparked by the police killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minnesota.
At the rally in the Collar City, volunteers were stationed throughout the park with free water, snacks, poster-making materials, and resources for support.
“Today is all about unity, freedom, and love. It’s all about all of us coming together as a community,” said Tatiana Gjergji of the nonprofit organization Noteworthy Resources, which had a presence at the rally.
“It’s important to bring our community together,” agreed Starletta Smith, with the YWCA. “When one life is lost, it affects everyone. The Black Lives Matter movement is about that. We are tired of dying, we’re tired of not being equal, and that’s all we want - equity and equality.”
Volunteers at the rally made sure people who needed it got water or food. Most volunteers were associated with one of the organizations supporting the rally, but some were there on their own, because they felt it was the right thing to do.
Friends Alex DeJohn, Brian Carter, and Emily Ellenbogen stood on the walkway between the park and Dinosaur BBQ, handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bags of chips and offering a simple but powerful statement of “peace.”
At the center of the rally was music and drumming, uniting the crowd. One of the rally leaders, who refused to be identified, stated that “we protest in many forms. This is how WE protest. We don’t do anything without drums and spirit. This is about us. This is about remembrance.”
The crowd responded with cheers and chants of “black lives matter.”
During the first part of the rally, libations were poured out in honor of those who had come before. Spanish and sign language interpretations were provided to make the event truly united and accessible to all.
Speakers gave brief orations on the local importance of the rally, with enthusiastic support from the crowds. Past acts of violence and brutality by Troy police were described and the names of victims were read.
When the speakers were finished, it was time to march.
The crowds took to the streets of downtown Troy, chanting “No Justice, No Ppeace.” They made their way out of Riverfront Park, looped through the city, and returned to the park at the end for a closing program.
During part of the march, protesters kneeled in the intersection of 3rd Ave. and River St., temporarily blocking traffic. As cars came to a stop and started backing up along 3rd Ave, the protesters encouraged drivers to exit their vehicles and kneel with them.
Some complied, receiving cheers and applause when they did so.
The rally achieved its goal of being a peaceful protest, with no incidents of property damage or violence.