Oakland took to the streets yet again Friday to declare the value of Black lives, with about 200 protesters raising their signs and their fists to condemn the killing of George Floyd and all of the racial injustices that preceded that act.
The group met at Jefferson Square Park around 5:30 p.m. and then marched down the middle of 7th Street, flanked on either side by cars honking in support. They paused for eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence in front of the police station at the corner of Broadway — symbolizing the eight minutes and 46 seconds former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck, resulting in Floyd’s death. They then headed down Broadway and ended at City Hall, where protesters gave impassioned speeches about everything from the struggles and the beauty of being Black, to the need to remove police from Oakland schools.
“I’m here because I’m sick of hearing about innocent people being murdered by the same people that are here to protect us,” Samantha Norman called out to the crowd. Norman, a member of Young Black Professionals of the Bay Area, organized the march — it was her first time putting together a protest.
The peaceful demonstration, which ended around 7:15 p.m., drew people of all different races and ages. Several families brought young children. There were no police in sight — a marked contrast from protests two weeks ago that drew large numbers of officers in riot gear.
Earlier in the day, several hundred people gathered at Lake Merritt for a “Hyphy Protest” drum circle and dance party.
Many people who showed up Friday said that before Floyd was killed, they’d never protested before. Even those with a history of civic engagement said things felt different this time.
“It’s a lot to take in. It’s been very emotional,” Norman said of the past two weeks. “I’m happy that people are standing up … At this point, I kind of feel like all of the people who don’t want to see change are outnumbered. They’re more outnumbered than they’ve been in the past. And that makes me happy.”
Ashley Richardson, 28, made the trek to Oakland from Vallejo to participate.
“Before, I didn’t do signs. I didn’t post. I didn’t sign petitions,” she said, holding a sign that read: “If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention.”
But after Floyd died, something in her snapped, and she couldn’t be silent any longer.
It was “the fact that it happened again,” Richardson said. “That we can’t breathe again. And why do we have to tell you guys more than once that we can’t breathe?”
Steve Paltiel, of Oakland, took his three sons — ages 8, 14 and 16 — to the demonstration. It was their first protest.
“I want to make sure my kids grow up with empathy,” said Paltiel, who is White.
The boys agreed it’s important for them to speak up.
“I think it’s important for everybody to fight for equality,” said 14-year-old Dylan Paltiel. “It’s not enough for just the people who are being oppressed to fight.”
When the group arrived at Frank Ogawa Plaza outside City Hall, Norman grabbed a microphone and told a story about a White man she once tried to be friends with, who felt sorry for her for being Black.
“I love my melanin. I love my skin. I love my curly, kinky hair,” she said, to cheers from the crowd. “Despite being hated by so many people for how I look, I love it … And whatever you are, you should love it too.”
Other people to take a turn at the mic included 17-year-old Kira Norwood, who had just graduated from Berkeley High School.
“If I’m going to spend my time after high school protesting and demanding, then I’m fine with that,” she told the crowd. “I want you to hold me accountable to doing this for the rest of my life, if that’s what I need to do.”
Dwayne Aikens Jr., who co-founded the nonprofit We Lead Ours to serve Oakland youth, left the crowd with some homework: Get involved in politics, even after the marching stops.
“Change starts right now,” he said. “We can’t just march and then not ask for things.”
