Hundreds march against racial injustice, inequality

Published June 10, 2020

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Over 700 hundred residents came together to fight racial injustice during a peaceful march on the Town Common on Monday.

Lynnfield High Class of 2019 graduates David Blake and Finn Mattingly and LHS junior Maddie Mahan organized the march in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Blake noted the three students collaborated with the Police Department and the Town Administrator’s Office in order to hold the march.

The peaceful marchers, most of whom were carrying signs, walked from Lynnfield Middle School to the Town Common. Mahan thanked everyone for coming to the rally.

“I thought it would have been half the size of this,” said Mahan. “The goal of today is to celebrate the voices of people of color in our community and help encourage an anti-racist discussion in Lynnfield now and in the future.”

After arriving at the Common, the protesters held an eight minute-and-46-second moment of silence in honor of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed on Memorial Day after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for that amount of time.

A time to act

Selectman Chris Barrett thanked Blake, Mattingly and Mahan for organizing the march.

“You three young people and all of the young people here today are among the many stars right now that are shining bright to light this dark night that we are all living through,” said Barrett. “Thank you.”

Barrett noted that the walk from the middle school to the Town Common is about a half-mile, but said, “The walk for racial equality for our black brothers and sisters has been long and difficult.”

“Their road has been filled with blood and tears, and it is our moment now to take a stand with them to demand change,” said Barrett. “We must acknowledge honestly that the work that remains is our own sacred duty to help build a more perfect union where all races are equal.”

Barrett stressed that, “Yesterday, today and forever: Black Lives Matter.”

“Black Lives Mattered when the first heroic sacrifice for American Independence was a black man: Crispus Attucks,” said Barrett. “Black Lives Mattered when the heroic actions of the All-Black 54th Regiment was instrumental, as President Abraham Lincoln said, in securing our final victory in the Civil War. Black Lives Mattered when Ruby Bridges, a heroic 6-year-old black girl, embarked on a historic walk to school that transformed education forever and showed all of us that no one is too small or young to fight for a cause that is right and proper. And Black Lives certainly Mattered when George Floyd, a man who was a son, a brother, a father and friend to so many, had his life brutally cut short as a result of a system where justice is not always blind.”

Barrett said, “There is little words can do right now to right the wrongs of our past,” but he said “there is much our actions can do to invoke the change we need to see right now.”

“We need to show our children, our loved ones, our community, our nation and the world that we are going to be a catalyst to bring about the necessary change to overcome the systemic failures that led to the tragic death of George Floyd,” said Barrett. “The weight of meeting this challenge falls on the shoulders of each and everyone of us.”

Barrett thanked Police Chief David Breen and Lynnfield Police officers for participating in the protest. He also stressed that people have to work together in order to end systemic racism.

“This is our time to act,” said Barrett.

“Be the change”

Woburn Memorial High School Class of 2020 graduate Brooklyn Manna said she was asked to speak at the march after leading a similar one in the Tanner City.

“We stand together in solidarity with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and inequality,” said Manna. “While some of you might be asking yourselves, ‘why is she preaching in our town? She doesn’t know the struggle.’ But me and every other person of color does.”

Manna asked the crowd if any of them have experienced racial prejudice. Only a few people raised their hands.

“Does that make your heart sink?” Manna asked. “It sinks mine. Racial discrimination is exposed to the majority people of color as a way to oppress us. Personally, I began to experience it at a young age and I have ever since. If you are tired about hearing racism in our country, imagine how tired some of us are about experiencing it.”

Manna said she and other people of color “have the right to speak about the struggles” they experience.

“We may have different struggles, as we have been oppressed for so long,” said Manna. “You have to listen to our stories without minimizing our history of oppression. So open your eyes and ears, and use your voice to tell people of color that we are not less than them. We are equal to them.”

Manna encouraged the marchers to “support our cause at this time” in order to create a more equal society.

“In order to make a change, you have to be the change,” said Manna. “If you are silent or neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Black Lives Matter in our society. Not because they matter more than any others, but because they have been systemically devalued for centuries. We need to end these systems of oppression that rule our nation. Black Lives Matter. They always have and they always will.”

After Manna concluded her speech, the march’s attendees gave her a thunderous round of applause.

Lawmakers vow action

State Sen. Brendan Crighton recalled that he grew up in Lynn and has always advocated on behalf of people of color. However, he said, “It has become clear to me that I can never fully understand what it is like to be the person behind black or brown skin.”

“The two biggest fights our nation is facing are against a global pandemic, which is having a disproportionate effect on communities of color, and systemic racism and racial injustice,” said Crighton. “The only way we are going to win those two battles is by coming together like we are today, by listening, by learning and by taking action.”

While House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) said the Civil Rights movement helped improve race relations, he said, “The killing of George Floyd has laid bare the deep rooted racism and the ongoing divisions that remain in our country.”

“It shows that we still have a long road to go to ensure full equality for all citizens regardless of the color of their skin,” said Jones. “We are known as the land of opportunity, but for many people the American Dream remains elusive in the face of continued racial injustice. Systemic racism has been ingrained in our society for far too long. It is a persistent problem that has never gone away despite constant efforts to eradicate it. The protests that have gripped our nation are the natural byproduct of our country reaching a breaking point and people coming together to say enough is enough.”

Jones said he doesn’t have the all of the answers to solve racial inequality, but promised, “to keep the conversation moving forward.”

“I firmly believe that those in positions of power have an obligation to incite peace and unity, not violence and division,” said Jones. “I am here today to listen to you, to learn from you and work with you to support meaningful change. I am hopeful that George Floyd’s death will serve as the impetus for long overdue change. We must all do our part to confront racism head on.”

“We must be better”

After LHS Class of 2020 graduates Josh Mattera and Alex Pellegrini performed a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Black or White,” Superintendent Jane Tremblay thanked Blake, Mahan and Mattingly for “standing up for what is right at a time when there is so much wrong.”

“Since George Floyd’s life was taken from him unjustly and brutally, people across our country and the world have come together in unison,” said Tremblay. “I think we just finally had a breaking point with racial inequality, injustice and racism. As I have watched the protests all over the world, I have hope that you will truly get to live in a world where institutional racism and hateful prejudice no longer exists.”

Tremblay said the school system’s educators are committed to “teaching love over hate, kindness over cruelty and hope over despair.”

“The pain we see in our black neighbors and friends is a pain that many of us can truly never understand,” said Tremblay. “But we must be committed to living in ways that ensure that our district and community are contributing to productive dialogue, experiences and solutions. Part of that process is learning by listening and when we are prone to speak, choose to listen even more to those whose experiences differ from ours. Collectively, we can and we must be better because Black Lives Matter.”

Discuss racism

After Tremblay concluded her speech, LHS Class of 1985 graduates Kevin Garraway and Cornell Cannon addressed the crowd.

Garraway, who was a METCO student, was impressed the town decided to hold the march. He recalled that “Boston was racial mess” in the 1970s.

“I was called racial names that I didn’t understand,” said Garraway. “But when I came here, everyone was friendly and welcoming.”

Garraway said the best way to solve institutional racism is by “talking about it.”

“Have the uncomfortable conversations,” said Garraway. “If you want to solve this, you have to have uncomfortable conversations in order for anyone to get along or understand each other.”

Cannon, who was also a METCO student, said his experience at LHS taught him to how to better understand people.

“Kevin and I still carry on good friendships with the majority of people we went to school with,” said Cannon. “To see everyone show up here today just warms my heart.”

Chief honors Floyd

After LHS sophomore Jemima Robins sang a cover of Cynthia Erivo’s “Stand Up,” Police Chief David Breen gave a speech.

“I’m surprised I was asked to speak,” said Breen. “I am honored to speak.”

Breen said Floyd’s death was “disgusting, shameful and never should have happened.”

“We are here on a beautiful day,” said Breen. “George Floyd will never get to enjoy a beautiful day again as well as others who have lost their lives to police brutality.”

Breen said the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck should have been stopped immediately.

“I have been in law enforcement for 37 years,” said Breen. “I have never seen a police officer put his knee on another human being’s neck. I hope I never see it again.”

Breen noted the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association has condemned the officer who murdered Floyd as well as the three other officers involved.

“Law enforcement needs to take more steps, needs to have dialogue and needs to review policies so that type of action never occurs again,” said Breen.

Closing remarks

LHS junior Elizabeth Daly said the town’s Black Lives Matter March as well as protests around the country have taught her about the importance of “coming together.”

“The problem of racial injustice has spanned over centuries, but I truly believe now is when we stop it for good,” said Daly. “I believe this because I never seen so many people come together to stand up for what is right. There have been protests in all 50 states, and that is how we are going to win.”

After Daly concluded her remarks, she read Maya Angelou’s poem “Alone.”

Town Administrator Rob Dolan thanked everyone for coming to the Black Lives Matter March.

Manna added that she hopes peaceful protests continue.

“It’s not up to people of color to educate you,” said Manna. “It’s up to you to educate yourself. Today is a good start.”