Maya McFadden Photos
Protesters ended Friday’s 5,000-person Black Lives Matter march with an hour of singing, dancing, and celebration set to the sounds of bomba, a music of resistance.
Dozens circled together outside police headquarters at 1 Union Ave. to participate in the dancing, drumming, and singing, as led by Movimiento Cultural Afro-Continental (MCAC), Inc.
“Racism dehumanizes all of us. But the one thing that we have as a repellent to that, that brings us light, is culture,” said Citywide Youth Coalition Executive Director Addys Castillo. “There’s no better way than to close out this powerful rally than with us sharing culture.”
Members of MCAC like Jessica Flores performed, then invited the community to join in on the dialogue between the dancer and drummer.
Protesters as young as 15 years old joined in and formed a circle of joyous dancing.
Sam Gurwitt Photo
Castillo invited participants to feel the “heartbeat” of the music and the resilience guiding the music while dancing. “The dancer is not dancing to the drum. The drum is beating to the dancer,” she said.
Some protesters opted into wearing the dance skirt as they joined the dance circle.
“Being around so much support is surreal,” said Kim Stagger, 24. “It’s amazing because even when we are scared for our lives we find a way to keep calm and do this, dance and sing the pain into something.”
Zalika Thompson, Valerie Amador, Filicia Haggerty, Zakiyyah Muhammad, and Vernetta Holley were a few that participated in the dance circle.
“This is how I protest,” said Whitney Brockenberry (above).
Once the dancing came to an end, Castillo led the group in a song with clapping hands and soulful voices.
“We will get there… God only knows how we’ll get there but we will…” the group sang.
Protesters also sang Happy Birthday to Breonna Taylor, who was killed by Louisville Metro Police Department officers in March. Friday would have been her 27th birthday.
As protesters peacefully dispersed after an hour, a small group formed just beside the police headquarters to dance some more, with music playing from a Westfalia van.
“It’s not over until we can dance without a target on our backs,” said a protester.
Watch the full musical performance below.