WALKOUT FOR BLACK LIVES
July 14, 2020
Tens of thousands join lunchtime vigils demanding justice and reform.
The actions are part of a global movement that was sparked by Floyd’s death that have brought tens of millions into the streets calling for re-structuring of police funding and a broader conversation about racism and its roots in American culture.
“We have had this problem for so long and it’s been ignored. We’ve heard speeches forty and fifty years ago about the same things that are happening today. Everyone is starting to opening their eyes now, but Black and Brown people have always known we are targeted and profiled,” said Ruben Borrero, an environmental service worker at NY-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.
“Now we are seeing what is happening and this is a different moment. This is not just about proving a point, it’s about making a change because there is a serious problem with how the police treat people in communities of color.”
Janis Westbrook, a CNA at Rosewood Health and Rehab Center in Orlando, FL, brought her grandchildren to the walkout.
“I felt so powerful and not alone. I had my grandkids with me. I wanted to let them see. They are from two to twelve years old. It was very powerful,” she said.
“This cannot conclude until we know that the next generation is not going to go through the struggles that we have gone through,” said Gresham. “We must stay united until we have equal justice for all.”
1199 Magazine | May / June 2020