After the intention of the march and an honoring of those killed by police was offered, “Baba” Akili lined folks up and the crowd took over a portion of the street as they marched three blocks to the crowded, tourist-filled plaza.Īt Hollywood & Highland the massive crowd gathered, leaving security scurrying. The initial crowd of several hundred was called together by Paula Minor, a core organizer with BLMLA for the pouring of libation, followed by prayer from Pastor Cue of the Church Without Walls, and a land acknowledgment led by the American Indian Movement. There were even a few celebrity sightings and some aspiring politicians in the mix. Parents joined with children as young as one. Kei, who at over 80, carries his own convertible cane chair and insists on walking rather than being driven. The oldest of the marchers may have been Mr. The crowd was overwhelmingly Black, and people of all races joined as allies. Young children and parents made signs, music played, and people embraced one another. With the families of #WakieshaWilson, #AnthonyVargas, #JohnHorton, #NephiArreguin, #KennethRossJr, #GrecharioMack, #ZelalemEwnetu, #DavidJosiahLawson, #LeeJefferson, #ChristopherDeandreMitchell, and #MeaganHockaday (all the way from Santa Barbara) present and the support of the families of #EricRivera, #KishaMichael, #AJWeber, #RyanTwyman, #ShayleneGraves, #RedelJones, #PaulRea, #JesseRomero, #JohnnyBonta, #Christian Escobedo and #DonteJordan, a crowd of Black Lives Matter activists and allies overflowed from Hollywood Franklin Park on the afternoon of Sunday, December 22nd. Sherilyn Haynes, mother of #ChristopherDeAndreMitchell, killed by Torrance police 12/9/18, preparing to join march. This year’s Mass March zeroed in on an epicenter of White capitalism – Hollywood & Highland, bringing nearly 1000 protestors, including many of the families of those killed by police.
Last year there was a “Mass March for Justice,” that began at the CNN Building on Sunset Boulevard, followed by demonstrations outside 24-Hour Fitness where #AlbertRamonDorsey was killed by LAPD and then inside Walgreen’s where #SkyYoung was murdered by security. In 2017, there was a march in Beverly Hills. In 2016 BLMLA took over the dining room at Trump Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes. In 2014, and 2015, there were demonstrations at The Grove. By having a presence in spaces of White affluence, Black Lives Matter intends to compel those who have bought their way out of state violence, through White privilege and wealth, to face the pain and horror of the system that has been built to protect their status.īlack Lives Matter-Los Angeles (BLMLA) has led major #BlackXmas actions since 2014. Practically, ending White capitalism – the interlocking systems of racism and classism – begins with disruption of business-as-usual. There is also an accompanying ridding of oppressive forms, in this case, White capitalism. Rooted in an abolitionist frame, the aforementioned tenets are a radical reimagining of the world. Since 2014, #BlackLivesMatter has used the holiday season to highlight the relationship between White capitalism and Black death through its #BlackXmas efforts that encourage people to #BuildBlack, #BuyBlack and #BankBlack. Time and time again, we see White capitalism relying on state violence to protect what they see as threats to their profits at the expense of Black Lives. #DennisToddRogers and #AlbertRamonDorsey were both murdered inside the Los Angeles area 24-Hour Fitness locations where they were members in 20 respectively.
#RedelJones, a mother of two who struggled with her mental health, was hunted and killed by LAPD after she was accused of stealing $80 from a local pharmacy in 2015. #YuvetteHenderson was gunned down by police in 2015 in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Emeryville, California, accused of shoplifting. He was criminalized for holding a toy gun, that was Walmart merchandise, as he shopped. In 2014, #JohnCrawford was killed by police inside of a Walmart store in Beaverton, Ohio. Black Lives Matter’s Protest at Hollywood & Highland (Courtesy Photo)
0 kommentar(er)
