100 Young Black Activists Respond to George Zimmerman Verdict
During a meeting in Chicago this past weekend, the Black Youth Project pulled together a statement in response to the George Zimmerman trial verdict announced Saturday night. The following is a brief excerpt from that statement. A video of the full statement follows.
Instead of a moment of silence, we raise our voices together. As Audre Lorde said, “our silence will NOT PROTECT US.” We are young leaders standing on the shoulders of our ancestors, carrying the historical trauma embedded in a legal system that will NOT PROTECT US. We are the legacy of Black resilience that compels us to fight for our lives.
We continue to call out Black Love, Black Power and Black is Beautiful in the face of continued devaluation of Black life. We affirm a love of ALL Black life, no matter if we are in hoodies or business suits, incarcerated or in boardrooms, on welfare or in the WNBA, on the corner or in the White House. We declare the fundamental value, beauty and power of ALL Black people. The poet Claude McKay once said, “Though far outnumbered, let us show us brave…we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack. Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”
JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON.
Ready the full statement at the Black Youth Project...