Crowds of people descended upon downtown Los Angeles on May 16 as part of the Moral Monday March sponsored by the Poor People’s Campaign, a national movement to confront racism, poverty, and other ills destroying communities across America.
The California Black Women’s Collective united with faith leaders throughout the state to recognize the achievements of U.S. Congresswomen Karen Bass and Barbara Lee. More than 200 people logged-in on International Women’s Day, March 8, to pay tribute to the political trailblazers. The virtual event, billed as “A Conversation with Black Clergy and Faith Leaders,” was co-sponsored by the Baptist Ministers Conference of L.A. and Southern California (BMC), Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California (SCLC-SC), the AME Church and Allen Temple Baptist Church. The program also focused on strategies to secure the former senatorial seat of U.S. Vice President
The City of Los Angeles hasn’t dealt with this much commotion since the 1992 Los Angeles Riots when LAPD officers brutally beat Rodney King. Unfortunately, with white nationalist on the rise, more savage police misconduct is being reported in record breaking numbers throughout the United States. On the flip side, as the harshness of hate gains exposure the power of love is in an uproar to protect The People and the sanctity of justice.
We checked-in with Los Angeleno protestors to hear their thoughts and share in their first hand accounts when demanding justice for George Floyd. Since it’s difficult for people to rapidly respond in the center of compacted trauma, I asked community members to answer any of the following questions: “As an observer or protest participant, Why was it important for you to participate in the #justiceforgeorgefloyed protest? How has the 2020 I Can’t Breathe Rebellion impacted your life? What are you called to do? Or, Why do Black Lives Matter to you?”