A peaceful protest with the theme ‘A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM’ was held Friday afternoon in West Hartford.
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
Between 150-200 protestors gathered at West Hartford Town Hall Friday afternoon, asking for an end to racial injustice, urging greater diversity and inclusion in the schools, and requesting defunding of the police department in favor of funding education and social services organizations.
“Black Lives Matter,” “No Justice, No Peace,” were just some of the chants that filled the air.
Alaysia Hamilton, a 2018 graduate of West Hartford’s Hall High School, organized the protest and along with several co-organizers led the group through the Center – filled with people enjoying outdoor dining – and returned to the police station where more speakers rallied the crowd.
The notice to attend the rally said it was for: “Folx in favor of defunding the police, who believe black lives matter, and who are ready to take concrete action.”
“Folx” is not a misspelling, but rather a deliberate spelling of the word “folks” to signify that those who are often marginalized are included.
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
One of the speakers said that just talking about diversity and inclusion in the schools is not specific enough. “We have to challenge the status quo,” she said, and “black and brown people have to lead.”
Her children never had a non-white teacher all the way through West Hartford Public Schools, and that needs to change.
Among the speakers was U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who had just driven back from Washington.
“I wanted to be here because this is what America looks like. This is what democracy looks like,” Blumenthal said.
“It isn’t just about George Floyd … it’s about the thousands who suffered and were never caught on tape. It’s about systemic racism,” not just a need to reform law enforcement but also a need to address inequities in healthcare and education.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke at the protest. A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
“If you see something, say something, and if you say something, do something,” said Blumenthal – including exercising your right to vote.
He told We-Ha.com that he believes the murder of George Floyd served as a watershed moment because it energized “the passion of the young people,” many of whom are leading the protests.
Friday’s event was the third protest in West Hartford in the past 10 days, and all were led by those in their teens and 20s. All have been peaceful as well.
Hamilton demanded defunding – that a portion of the West Hartford Police Department’s current budget “must be allocated to funding community-based organizations.”
They requested greater accountability and transparency, and that social service workers are used to respond to certain situations rather than police officers, more sensitivity training in the schools, and the hiring of teachers of color to match the makeup of the district.
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A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Diners at bar taco show their support. A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Motorists stuck in traffic on Farmington Avenue as the march goes by signal their support. A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (left), Michael Cantor, and Mayor Shari Cantor participated in the protest and march. A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Organizer and Hall High School graduate Alaysia Hamilton. A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A Fight for Justice & Accountability #BLM protest in West Hartford. June 12, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
