Hundreds Rally In Dixwell For Racial Justice

Several hundred people rallied outside of Varick AME Zion Church in Dixwell in a prayer and protest rally commemorating the lives of those lost to police brutality — and detailing the work needed to realize a more just future.

The rally started at noon Sunday outside of the historic African American church at 242 Dixwell Ave.

It was organized by Varick Pastor Kelcy Steele under the banner of a new organization he founded called the Social Justice Collaborative.

By 1:30 p.m., roughly 300 people marched down Dixwell Avenue and towards the Green singing, ​“Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!”.

“We are taking time to memorialize those individuals who were murdered at the hands of the police,” Steele (pictured) said about the purpose of the day’s event.

He said Sunday’s interfaith rally is not about police abolition, but about raising awareness around the continued impact of anti-black racism in 2020 — and around ways to overcome such a foundational American evil.

“In order to really combat racism,” he said, ​“it’s going to take the whole community to bring awareness to it.”

“Protest should always lead to conversation,” he continued. ​“And that conversation should always lead to action. I believe after this season of protest is over, we are going to have those hard conversations about what racism is and how it’s affecting all of our communities.”

Dozens of attendees at the rally wore black shirts and black face masks that bore in white block letters the words: ​“I can’t breathe… again.” Many held signs showing raised fists made up of the names of victims of police violence.

“It is time for us to speak up and let the world know we will not tolerate these injustices,” Ice the Beef activist Manuel Camacho said about recent instances of police killings and brutality against black and brown Americans. ​“Let us not forget those who lost their lives to spark such a movement in history. Let us honor them and show that their deaths indeed went to a greater purpose.”

The bulk of Sunday’s speaking line up as of 12:45 p.m. featured local, state, and national politicians railing against the long history of police violence against minority communities and outlining the political actions necessary to reverse such harms. Speakers included Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers, Mayor Justin Elicker, State Sen. Gary Winfield, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Prospect Hill/Newhallville Alder Steve Winter.

The speaker lineup also included ConnCAT’s Erik Clemons, Newhallville pastor Boise Kimber, Dixwell Community Management Team Chair Nina Silva, Dixwell-based contractor Rodney Williams, and Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven CEO Judy Alperin, among others.

Walker-Myers told the crowd that she is committed to getting the Civilian Review Board up and running during this term of her leadership of the local legislature.

“The way black people are treated in this country is not right,” she said.

“Black people are not looking for pity. We don’t need it. We’re looking for the same opportunities as everyone else. We want opportunities, access, and outcomes.”

Elicker invoked the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Jayson Negron, and other black and brown men and women recently killed by police across this country.

“In New Haven, we are working on improving our own policies,” he said. Those include use of force and police accountability policies, he said.

He said the city is committed to reviving the CRB and improving the role of the police commission.

“Our police officers, while not perfect, have chosen to work in our city because of their commitment to community policing.” He said local officers are not perfect, but ​“overwhelmingly they try to do the right thing.”

DeLauro promoted a recently introduced House police reform bill that seeks to ban chokeholds, change ​“the culture of law enforcement with training in order to build integrity and trust,” maintain better and clearer data on police violence, and make lynching a federal crime.

“Let’s take the action that’s needed and is necessary in order to create equality and health and racial justice,” she said.

Williams (pictured) was skeptical that the current political leadership is capable of achieving the reforms and changes they preached on Sunday.

“Right now is really time to pass the baton,” he said. ​“The respectful thing, since America is about to change, is to help it change.”

He said he’s tired of seeing New Haven make the evening TV news for instances of police brutality.

Democrats are part of ​“where we at,” he said. Racism is not a problem that besets only Republicans. ​“We hurting,” he said.

He said the residents of Newhallville need better education, better job opportunities, better access to quality health care. ​“No disrespect. There’s a lot of work that you all did. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Mother of four Antinish Heard wasn’t hesitant about coming out to the large gathering to join the peaceful protest and fight for her young kids’ lives.

Heard brought along her 10-year-old twin boys.

“We deserve to breath” said Deon Forbes.

Her other son, Delon Forbes, proudly held up a Black Lives Matter sign on the front steps of Varick as guest speakers spoke to the crowd of hundreds.

“Its great to see everyone being safe and positive because it’s not always this way. I have to constantly prep my kids with our reality while also telling them to stay joyful, open minded, and to love all,” Heard said.

Dixwell native Letitia Charles (pictured) said that she turned out for Sunday’s rally not just to voice her support for police reform. She said she wants to see Dixwell Avenue return to its prior status as a sort of ​“Black Wall Street” with a vibrant and diverse economy.

“Economic development is just as important as changing different systems,” she said. ​“For me, it’s not just the police department.”

Caskets On The Green

After marching down Dixwell Avenue and over to the Green, the marchers set up one empty casket in front of the city parks department’s stage, and one up on the platform alongside a keyboard, chairs, and a pair of microphones.

“Another name was added to that list,” Bethel AME Church Pastor Steven Cousin said about the long list of black people killed by the police. That was the name of Rayshard Brooks, a black man killed by Atlanta police on Friday.

“For falling asleep at a Wendy’s drive-through,” Cousin said. ​“Who would have thought that he would lose his life for falling asleep at a Wendy’s drive-through.”

Every time black Americans think they’re making progress, he said, something like this happens to show just how much work is left to do.

A crowd of roughly 300 spaced themselves out on the Green to listen, sing, and raise their hands in praise as local pastors, rabbis, and imams preached and a small band played gospel music in between.

During his time on stage, Rev. John Lewis brought his two grandsons up alongside him, looked them in the eyes, and said, ​“You matter. You mean something. Your life matters.”