Lincoln rally looks back at black injustice and forward to change

 

[June 13, 2020] 

The “Stand Together, Breathe Together” rally for peace, justice, unity and understanding was held in Lincoln this past Wednesday evening. The event held outside the Logan County Courthouse brought out over 250 people.

Introduction and opening prayer



Tim Rivera welcomed everyone and said the rally was a time for people to come together and show love, share some love, share their stories and continue the message that all black lives matter and all lives matter. Rivera said the night was about unity and he was glad to see people coming together in solidarity as a community with so much is going on in the world.



Recently retired Reverend Glenn Shelton opened with a prayer thanking God for being our creator, help and savior and asking God to bless the occasion. He prayed the speakers would speak with peace and comfort but still be real.

Shelton has lived in Lincoln for 35 years and loves the town, though he said it did not come easy. He encouraged this generation to do things like this event because when he was their age, he didn’t participate in them. The event lifts Shelton’s spirits and increases his hope that there will be and continue to be unity in the community. He quoted a Psalm where David said he would lift his eyes to the hills because all his help comes from the Lord.

The purpose of the rally



LCHS and LC graduate Kayla Hunt spoke about the purpose and goal of the rally. She said the purpose embodies the meaning of being a Black American in this country, state and town. It embodies the need for change especially relating to police brutality and the dying need for police reform.

In speaking of reform, Hunt said reform is about making changes to improve law enforcement and their tactics to enforce the law. There have been countless events of unarmed black Americans being murdered at the hands of police while conducting their everyday life. She said this life is already not the same as for white Americans.

Black people have suffered too many deaths and inequalities, so Hunt said we are here to bring awareness of the black community’s struggles. These struggles stem from systemic racism that everyone would be hearing about at the event.

Hunt asked that all would hold themselves, their friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, city officials, school officials and business owners accountable for their thoughts, words and behaviors. It is time for uncomfortable conversations that will open eyes, minds and hearts. It is time to inflict the urge upon people to change so generations to come can see a better day.

We want justice not just when someone is looking but even when no one is looking. Kayla said this statement was especially speaking to our good officers. Hunt wants police officers to recognize their voice and actions are needed.
While understanding the loyalty of the brotherhood within the police force, Hunt asked officers to remember their oath to protect the whole community. That means stopping brutality before it happens and holding fellow officers accountable.

The rally’s mission was for change in the everyday life of the black community. Hunt made a plea for equality and opportunities in classrooms, careers and simple actions like walking down the street. She focused on one part of the Pledge of Allegiance and had everyone join in saying, “we are one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” Kayla ended by saying we demand liberty and justice.

A History of Systematic Racism



Jennifer Hunt provided a brief history of systematic racism and explained why police brutality is the outcome we are presented with today. Black people have the oldest, richest and greatest history, which is why they were hunted, kidnapped and brought to the United States to be enslaved. It is essential to know our history to know where we come from. If we don’t know where we come from, then we don’t know where we are going. If we don’t know where we are going, we don’t know where to begin and how to fix the problems we face today.

Africans were brought to this country in 1619 to advance the economic structure of the United States. They were brought in to do the agricultural work in the south and textile work in the north. Black ancestors built this country. However, Hunt said for hundreds of years, black people were not allowed to build economic wealth or own property.

The 13th Amendment was meant to abolish slavery, but Hunt said slavery did not end but transformed. The 13th Amendment states neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Hunt said that is where systematic racism began. Laws passed have forced African Americans to a third-class status. Yet like a phoenix, many rose from the ashes.

Black Wall Street was one of the most prosperous African American communities in U.S. history, which Hunt said was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1921, white rioters and mobs looted, bombed, burned and terrorized black businesses and homes. The results of this massacre and the 1923 Rosewood Massacre crippled the black community financially, mentally and emotionally, and left hundreds dead.

Hunt said, notably, there were no whites arrested; however, blacks were arrested and severely punished. Throughout America’s history, blacks have been harassed, assaulted, murdered, spit on, lynched and imprisoned.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 sought to end segregation in public spaces and ban employment discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin. Yet, Hunt said policy makers passed laws implementing policies counteracting these civil rights.

For the black community, Hunt said the system has been fixed and predetermined. She said it affects the neighborhoods black people live in, the property values of homes, the schools children attend and the education they receive. Homes in black neighborhoods have lower property values.

Children go to schools based on the neighborhoods they live in and schools are funded by property taxes. Therefore, Hunt said schools with a majority of black students receive less funding, classrooms are overcrowded, teachers are underpaid. Schools do not have access to high quality tutors. All of that has to do with America’s history of systematic racism.

After the Civil War, Hunt said many government agencies redlined neighborhoods and listed them as desirable or undesirable. For years, black neighborhoods were prohibited from getting access to public or private investments. Banks and insurance companies used these maps for decades to deny people loans and other services based solely on race.

Historically speaking, Hunt said owning a home and getting a college education is the easiest way for American families to build wealth. However, banks often refused black people this opportunity because their neighborhood was redlined.

Colleges prevented students from attending through legal segregation, so Hunt said options for higher education were scarce.

For whites, Hunt said this was not the case. White people received low interest loans for homes and businesses and were accepted to the top universities. Banks were willing to lend to lower income white families rather than black upper and middle-class families. As a result, for every $100 of wealth held by a white family, black families have $5.04.

Though redlining is now illegal, Hunt said it still affects home values contributing to the implicit bias and prejudice causing systematic racism.

Even when they defeat the odds and graduate from college, Hunt said black people do not get the same opportunities. Studies have shown resumes with white sounding names get twice as many call backs. She said that is why the black unemployment rate is twice as high than the white unemployment rate.

Evidence of systematic racism is shown in every aspect of life including wealth, incarceration, political representation, education and police brutality.

Over the years, Hunt said many politicians have used dog-whistle politics. Dog whistle politics is political messaging coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population and public at large while simultaneously have additional or different meanings for some subgroups. For instance, President Nixon was the first to use the term law and order. More recently, Hunt said President Trump has referred to himself as the law and order candidate describing good old days when law enforcement acted a lot quicker.

The Stand Your Ground Law has kept people like Treyvon Martin from receiving justice for being murdered.

Contracts between states and prison corporations require states to keep prisons filled regardless of whether those occupying the cells committed a crime. Hunt said that has devastated the black community. The southern strategy, such as the war on drugs, has targeted, terrorized and imprisoned blacks. Racial disparity has created a cycle of mass incarceration that has weakened the black community. The 1994 Crime Bill was responsible for prison expansion and led to surge in imprisonment of blacks.

People have been encouraged to take a plea deal offering a shorter sentence than the mandatory minimum. Hunt said it allows those being charged for immediate release until their hearing without posting bail. Those who choose to exercise their right to trial are punished and sit in jail serving the mandatory minimum.

One example Hunt provided was Kalief Browder, who was wrongfully accused of stealing a backpack and refused to take the plea deal. Browder was sent to Ryker’s Island Jail for three years and sat in solitary confinement for two years. Eventually the charges were dropped, and Browder was released, but two years later he committed suicide from suffering physical and mental abuse.

Hunt said slavery transformed to convict leasing, which transformed to Jim Crow, which transformed to mass incarceration. The consequences of this are still affecting access to opportunities and the negative image of black people today. It still contributes to false stereotypes and Hunt said these influences correlate to police brutality experience by the black community regardless of age and status.

The black community is looking for equality and not revenge. Hunt said there was an entire presidential campaign based on the slogan “Make America Great Again” but asked when America has ever been great for the black community.

Before the next speaker, Quentin Breckenridge sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which he called the Black National Anthem. Breckenridge said it tells where we come from and where we are going.

Stories of discrimination and calls for unity

Several people then shared their stories and called for unity.



LCHS and LC grad Jessica Jackson said now is the time for uncomfortable conversations. Jackson said black people are tired, our nation is tired and is saying enough is enough. Too many people say “but” even after seeing George Floyd’s slow, torturous murder on every social media platform. Surrendering unarmed Michael Brown was murdered by a police officer in cold blood and still people say “but” he was a 6’4” black man so he is automatically a threat. Murder is murder.
Systematic racism is diminishing the humility and humanity of black people. Jackson asked how many more children, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, siblings have to be slaughtered before people of power act. No longer should one person be the judge, jury and executioner of a human being. Black people have been degraded, beaten and killed publicly for centuries with no repercussions. Black people are in a state of emergency after being killed by white racist vigilantes. Some police officers have even killed people sleeping in their beds.

Jackson said black lives are in danger and black people are suffering. They are aiming for all lives matter, unity and a safe space. When Jackson moved here her senior year, she said teachers looked at her with disgust because she was a black girl from Chicago, who they thought had an attitude. She recalls being told she would never be anything or obtain a degree.

It is time to make a change and Jackson said there needs to be accountability for officials who make remarks promoting violence. There needs to be accountability for those who took an oath to protect us here and across the nation.

Teachers need to step in when they hear racial slurs. People need to stand up against racism and accept everyone. Teachers, parents, government officials, institutions and churches need to take accountability for silence during this movement. Jackson quoted from Martin Luther King in saying, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Some who spoke at last week’s protest march and rally shared their stories of discrimination.



Nineteen-year-old Lexi Davis was raised in Lincoln and said she often wrote essays on black lives matter in school. She was taught limited black history that often just focused on MLK, Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks. Dawson wants teachers to teach more about black history.

Last year, Davis was pulled over by an officer who followed her for a while and was upset because she was on the phone. The officer tried to take the phone from her. When she told him, he did not have the right to do that, he tried to force her to get out her car and called for back-up.

Speaking for the black people facing more time in the criminal system than white people, Davis asked when black people will finally get justice and when change will happen. When will people stop having to live their lives in fear? When will a black man be able to prove he is a changed man when being targeted? When will black people be able to walk the streets without questions of where they are going? When will it be enough?



Sixteen-year-old Elise Dawson said change starts with awareness. Though Dawson’s friends make her feel loved, there are times when she feels unloved. Racial comments even made as jokes hurt, so Dawson said you should be aware of what you say. Dawson has also experienced racism from her own people for the way she dresses and for using proper language.

People should be asking themselves, “What do you think a black person is?” Dawson asked whether it is the stereotype some make black people out to be, or (questioning) are black people capable of making their own path and being successful, not just gangbangers and drug dealers.

The next question Dawson asked was if we can be successful people with amazing careers, a town who loves us and a long and successful marriage. Can we have a kid who wants for nothing and a family who always backs them? Dawson was describing her life, which she enjoys. Dawson said she is what her parents have raised her to be: a strong black woman who has been taught by family members not to hate, but to love.



Karson Bonaparte attends University High School in Normal but went to school in Lincoln from kindergarten through eighth grade. At the schools in Lincoln, Karson said people wanted to touch his hair and see how it felt. At U-High, he sees more diversity and is part of a diversity committee that went to the Muhammad Ali Center to learn what Ali went through.

U-High is big on accountability and Bonaparte said without accountability there is no justice. He said we should hold friends accountable for what they say and what they do. We need to teach people better ways to handle certain situations.



Heart and Soul Café owner Sherese Johnson said what has been going on here and across the world is a catalyst for change. She said lyrics from the Michael Jackson song “They Don’t Really Care About Us” still resonate 25 years after it came out. The song talks about police brutality, being ripped of pride and being a victim of hate, and lacking rights.

Johnson is tired or micro-aggressions and police brutality and wonders why black lives matter and ending racism is a debate. People of color are over-policed and too many are killed. Reform and a change in laws is needed. Someone needs to represent black people and care.

When people say black lives matter, Johnson said they are not saying only black lives matter. All lives matter, but she said black lives are the ones in danger. Johnson then referenced Luke 15 where there are 100 sheep and one goes missing. Jesus leaves the 99 sheep to find the one in danger.



High schooler Ava Gorens said she hears the N word as a general slang term too often. She lives in fear for her black father’s life. Gorens does not like walking past people hearing whispers or watching people grab each other as if she, her brother and her father are a danger to them. Gorens said black people have come too far to be treated like they are a threat to the world. People should teach kids it is terrible to hate someone for the color of their skin.
 

Community leaders call for 'Action'



Lincoln College President David Gerlach said he was proud and honored to represent the college. Underrepresented students make up 60 percent of the campus. For Gerlach, the death of George Floyd was a tragic reminder of the bias and violence that plague our nation.

Like many, Gerlach share feelings of outrage, frustration, and profound sadness so many Americans are experiencing. Gerlach clearly admitted he cannot begin to understand the pain and frustration of centuries of abuse, slavery, mistreatment, racism, Jim Crow, redlining and slow progress. He cannot begin to understand murders at the hand of the KKK, segregation, being followed, stopped for suspicion because of fitting a description, fear of police and even murder at the hands of police.

Because he does not share these experiences. Gerlach cannot say he understands. However, he is sad, sorry and broken, seeing some general ignorance and hate in the community that needs to stop.

Gerlach said Lincoln College students have been followed at the store and heard derogatory remarks. Gerlach has heard horrible comments about students. He said these are awesome and fantastic students and they need opportunities. Some students do stupid things. They are disciplined and sent home, which Gerlach said it is no different from any other college. Gerlach said for some, the stupid things they do are assigned to their race.

When the college took over St. Clara’s Manor for extra housing, Gerlach said despicable comments were made on social media about running over students walking slowly across Ottawa Street. Gerlach said it must stop. These students are awesome and just need opportunity like everyone else. The community needs to embrace the students. They spend money in the community and should be respected not for the money they are spending, but who they are.



First Presbyterian Pastor Adam Quine read from Genesis 1 about humans being created in God’s image. He also read from the Gospel of John where Jesus told the disciples, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.”

Speaking as a sibling in faith, Quine said like everyone, he has been created by God to breathe God. Quine said as a white male he feels called not to speak but to listen and is mindful of his white privilege. He said even pastors perpetuate racism under the guise of prayers for peace and harmony rather than proclaiming truths that black people are still the subject of unjust laws, recipient of unequal treatment in the judicial system and victims of sanctioned brutality.

For too long, Quine said words have sufficed with no real commitment to change. Finally, we are seeing white people respond to cries for change. Quine said it is time to listen to our black siblings as they direct us to justice. Justice is what love looks like in public and love is what Christians are called to be and share. Quine said it is time to have hard conversations everywhere to get the peace God promised.

Quine asked people to repent of racism. He said we must not deny black people’s experiences. We need to show action, speak against racism and show love. Love does not abuse power, go into a house unannounced, lift up symbols of white supremacy or shame people for skin color. Love does not destroy what God has created, given breath to and deemed very good.

For Quine’s white siblings, he said silence is no longer an option. The Bible is full of people like Moses and Jeremiah who felt unqualified to speak but acted in faith and promoted truth, justice and peace. Quine said now is the time to listen to people of color who demand we hear their cries and speak out against unfair advantages white people have. It is time to dismantle a system that was not right to begin with. For peace there must be justice. Quine said it should not have taken this long for Christians to realize black lives matter. Complacency and silence are not options.



Linda Rivera has seen many changes, but with George Floyd dying or other people being shot reaching for their wallet, she realized we have not come that far. Rivera thought of Chicago teen Emmett Till, who was brutally beaten and killed in Mississippi for something he allegedly said to Caroline Bryant, a white storeowner’s wife. His body was thrown in the Tallahatchie River and his body recovered four days later. After four days, Till looked more like an old man than a teenager, but his mom chose an open casket so everyone could see what happened. Years later, Bryant admitted it was a lie and Till had not said anything derogatory. His killers were unfortunately acquitted.

Rivera said change needs to come.

Lincoln College History Professor and city Alderman Ron Keller is sad to see what has happened in our country. Keller is also glad to see the hope. He said we need to confront and eradicate racism and work together as a community for reconciliation and racial justice.

As a historian, Keller has studied Abraham Lincoln quite a bit. Lincoln had to come to his own racial awareness. In 1858, Lincoln said he was not in favor of blacks voting or serving on juries and called the white race superior. Keller said Lincoln changed his views on race after meeting Frederick Douglass.

Douglass had his own prejudices as a former slave and abolitionist. Keller said Douglass had a distrust of white people. When Lincoln and Douglass met in 1863, Keller said they put aside their differences in ideology and position.

Lincoln did not talk about the differences in their skin color. Keller said they worked together, stood together, breathed together and conversed with each other not at each other.

Keller came to listen, learn and grow. He said we need to adapt and change. Keller supports police, but accepts there is injustice and proclaims black lives matter. Though working hard to achieve what he has achieved, Keller knows he has white privilege. Keller said we must work together as one body, stand together and breathe together.

When the Puritans landed almost 400 years ago, Keller said John Winthrop’s vision for America was to make each other’s conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together. We must have our eyes as a community as one and the same body together.

Keller’s history tells him we are all equal and made in God’s image.

He said people in leadership positions need to hold themselves accountable for their words and actions, rejecting those who seek to divide us for their own political expediency.

Keller said we need to break ourselves out of our comfort zone and surround ourselves with people different from us. We must stand together, breathe together and meet hate with love, peace, justice and understanding.

More pleas for change



Suzy Lynn Jones read a poem her niece’s friend wrote about being a privileged white girl. Jones hoped it will help educate people. The writer said she will never fully understand what black people feel but will educate herself and stand with them in this tragic time. She will hear them and see them.

The writer does not understand those who hate someone simply because of skin color. We are all humanity, all brothers and sisters. While the writer knows she does not have the same fears and worries of some of her black friends, she knows what happens to some is not right. Black people should be able to live freely and not be afraid to leave their homes. The writer said black lives matter and those with privilege should stand with them. She prays the hate inside of people will heal.



Whitney Proffitt said she had heard a few were asked by some not to speak about their experiences and was upset by that. Proffitt fears for her biracial children. She has been educating herself about horrible experiences black people have gone through. Proffitt is pleading for change and asking everyone to call people out on their racism.


 

 

 

As a demonstration of what George Floyd was asked to do, Jennifer Hunt asked those who were able to lie on the ground with their hands behind their backs and their face on the grass or concrete. For those unable to do that, she asked people to kneel or raise up an arm. Then, she read a long list of names of victims of police brutality and asked everyone to think about what Floyd and others have gone through.

Towards the end of the evening, local singer and songwriter Alexa Redd also read some names of those who were victims of brutality. She wants equity and justice. Redd sang a song called “Peace of Mind” she had written about the problem of brutality and not judging people for their skin color.

Tim Rivera thanked everyone who spoke.

On June 19th, Jennifer Hunt said there will be a Juneteenth celebration and she invited all city officials, school officials, business owners, anyone in position of power and others to come out and help plan to implement change.



The event closed with a prayer by Jeannette Harris asking God to provide guidance, touch people’s hearts and bring racial reconciliation. She prayed people would ask questions and turn to God.

[Angela Reiners]