December 11, 2014 [Mount Vernon, NY] — In what was promoted as the Black Lives Matter March, a handful of Young Adults took to the streets of Mount Vernon Thursday afternoon and peacefully protested. Organized by a young man who facebook handle is Jointz Tha Mastermind, joined by seven other college students, marched down Fourth Avenue, starting at the corner of Third Street and continuing down Gramatan Avenue to the Circle, chanting ‘Black Lives Matter,’ ‘No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police’ and ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’.
The held their signs and chanted boldly and unapologetically at the Circle and then proceeded back down Gramatan Avenue to City Hall.
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In Roosevelt Square they continued shooting and protesting with the organizer facing the MVPD Headquarters and addressing the police officers who were present, that their lives do matter. They stated they don’t feel all police are bad, but cautioned the Mt. Vernon officers by staying silent while when police misconduct takes place that makes them past of the problem as well.
“Our lives matter,” the organizer tells Black Westchester. “Our lives as well as everyone who has ever felt oppressed by a system meant to protect them.”
Black Westchester would like to congratulate the eight young adults who braved the cold weather and didn’t allow even the low turn out stop them from letting their voices be heard. Those eight brave young adults stepped up and instead of complaining, got up, got out and did something.
Actually doing more than the elders of the Mount Vernon community, including those who usually complain that the youth are out of control. This group of young men and women showed, it doesn’t take a large crowd to stand up, and when no one else is, someone has to be first.
In closing I leave you with the words of Marianne Williamson, that embody the action of these eight young adults:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
