BLM Spotlight
Black Lives Matter Global
Protest
British Journalist Maysaa Jankara and American Journalist Maya Davis, attended the
London protests outside parliament on Wednesday the 3rd of June and Sunday the 7th
of June. Both journalists speak on the importance of the Black Lives Matter protest and
what it means to them.
What the protest means to me?
by Maysaa Jankara
by Maya Davis
As a person of colour, and as Black-British
women, I felt the gravity to stand in
solidarity with my community. Racism is not
just embedded in America. It has long been
rooted in Britain as well.
Many Black-British men have been
victims of racial profiling when stopped
and searched in the streets. Following the
senseless racial killing of Breonna Taylor,
George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and many
others, enough was enough. I protestested
to stand against racism, systematic racism,
and institutional racism. We also marched for
justice for Billy Munji and Shukri Abdi.
I went to both London protests. The
first in Hyde Park on Wednesday the 3rd of
June, as well as the one on the 7th of June,
which kicked off outside the US Embassy.
The demonstrations have raised a lot of
questions about the treatment of Black
people in Britian. Why are so many Black men
and women not represented enough in work,
schools, and university?
Growing up in British schools, I have
always felt that I was shielded from my
history. ‘Why are we not taught about Black
history in schools?’ Also, ‘Why in Britian do
we shy away from speaking out about the
long history of slavery, racial segragation,
and racial oppression?’
Already the global Black Lives Matter
protest has had an impact, and the four
police officers involved in George Floyd’s
death were fired and charged. But the fight
to end rasicm is not over yet. Without justice
there is no peace, and all lives won’t matter if
Black lives don’t matter.
Since 1619, Black-Americans have been
oppressed beyond measure. For over three
hundred years, we have been killed, treated
as human waste, systematically oppressed,
discriminated against, and the list can go on.
The year 2020 is officially the year
to unify and revolt. George Floyd’s death
was just the tip of the iceberg. Since the
beginning, we have been on edge and are
overly fed-up. Though, this is not news to us
as it may be news to others.
I see a different energy and compassion
in this generation that cannot be matched
by any other. Those in the age of the Civil
Rights era merely paved the way for us, and
as the newer generation, we are continuing
their work, but this time on an international
scale. We are not and will not step down.
Black Lives Matter protests are taking
place all over the world. This is not a
moment, nor a trend; it is unequivocally
a movement. These protests are not
performative. They are saving lives,
changing policies, and dismantling things
that were once dangerously historical and
glorified. To attend a protest as a Black
person is triggering and emotionally
draining, but also exhilarating.
To feel and see everyone come
together from all ethnic backgrounds
and nationalities for Black people is
indescribable and warms the heart and fuels
the passion differently. As human beings,
we should protect all forms of humanity at
all costs.
picture: Clay Banks, Charlotte, NC, United States
For more information on Belly Munjinga’s petition for justice follow the link: https://www.change.
org/p/govia-thameslink-justice-for-belly-mujinga-justiceforbellymujinga
Watch the London Protest 2020 video on our website: www.hyphnmagz.wixsite.com/thehyph-n
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picture: Karimi Karagani, Melbourne VIC Australia
picture: James Esade, London, United kingdom