‘AN AMERICAN ISSUE’
THOUSANDS RALLY IN HAVERTOWN TO SHOW BLACK LIVES MATTER
HAVERFORD » “All lives can’t matter until black lives matter.” That was the message of Haverford High School 2018 graduate Jasmine Walters. And thousands of local residents who joined her Sunday afternoon agreed.
They took part in the “Havertown Stands with Black Lives Matter” march and rally which went from the school district administration building on Eagle Road down Darby Road to the township administration building. The community is predominantly white, with the U.S. Census Bureau estimating 3.6 percent of its 49,526 residents are African Americans.
The line of marchers stretched for blocks as police stopped traffic for protesters to safely pass. Many families could be seen in the diverse crowd and nearly everyone carried a banner or sign. As the protest made its way along Darby Road, others lined along the road applauded.
The event was organized by students from Haverford High School African-American Cultural
Enrichment Club.
“I just want you to imagine your father being choked to death by having someone’s knee forced into his neck, or your brother being shot while walking home, or your aunt, niece or sister being shot while sleeping in their own home,” said one of the organizers, Haverford High School senior Cidney Bolden to the assembled crowd. “Police need to stop using excessive force with my people and over-using their power.”
“We want to show this isn’t just a Minneapolis issue, this is an American issue. We in Havertown need to stand against racism here,” said senior Trey Emeno, another organizer. “We need to change everywhere. This is a first step.”
“We met with them on Friday and assured them that we were here to aid them to make sure their march goes off peaceful and get their message across without any problems,” Haverford Police Chief John Viola said.
Along the march, protesters chanted the names of African Americans who have recently died at the hands of police in the
Unities States. “George Floyd - say his name!” “Breonna Taylor - say her name!” “Black Lives Matter; Black Live Matter!”
George Floyd was the Minneapolis man who was killed last month by a police officer who held his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes. Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot and killed in her own bed when police, executing a search warrant, burst into the wrong home.
Along the march, protesters also chanted, “No KKK, No Racist USA, No Trump!”
Once marchers reached the township building, they held a rally which filled the parking lot. Students read from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s writings and called on those on the sidelines to speak up.
“Havertown is good people, but that is not enough. You need to be part of the solution,” said longtime Haverford resident Chuck Bonfig. “We need to pledge never to let this happen again.”
“If you really stand with us, you need to be an example by following and making laws in this community,” said Dallas King, one of the leaders of AACE, wrapping up the event. “Being that the Haverford P.D. are pretty good cops, they need to lead the nation by showing that police officers that participate in criminal activities that lead to death, need to suffer severe consequences and are sent to jail quickly.”
The most poignant part of the event was when the crowd knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time associated with the killing of Floyd. They read a long list of other African
Americans who have died at the hands of police and then repeated Floyd’s final words.
“Please man, please somebody, I can’t breathe, I can’t move. Mama, Mama, I can’t,” and ““Please, I can’t breathe.” “My stomach hurts.” “My neck hurts.” “Everything hurts.” “They’re going to kill me.”
Although a few participants fainted under the bright sun, organizers had plenty of water to hand out and those that passed out were quickly attended to by Township paramedics.
A number of elected officials were on hand for the march, including U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore, and county District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
“This is how we are going to make change,” said Scanlon after the event. “Kids aren’t just talking about it. They are organizing. They are organizing a voting drive right now. I am so proud of
“This is how we are going to make change. Kids aren’t just talking about it. They are organizing. They are organizing a voting drive right now. I am so proud of all of them.”
— U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore