5,000 March For Racial Justice

New Haven teens led the way as thousands poured into the streets of New Haven to demand racial justice, an end to police violence, and a move from funding cops to funding schools and communities.

It was the latest protest in New Haven and nationwide sparked by the killing of African-Americans by law enforcement, most recently the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The event ran four hours, turning out an estimated 5,000 people in a mix of determined demands for change and celebration of peaceful protest with a new generation at the helm.

The crowd gathered on the Green at 3 p.m. Members of the Citywide Youth Coalition read a list of demands that included switching $33 million of police department funding to schools and social needs; eliminating school resource officers (cops); ​“ending the triple occupation of New Haven” by Yale, Hamden, and New Haven police. (Read about the full list of demands here.)

“Y’all are amazing. Look at this city!” declared Ala Ochumare (pictured) of Black Lives Matter New Haven. ​“This is a peaceful uprising. This is not a riot. We are out here demanding our liberation for all people.”

Veteran protest organizer Norm Clement urged those in the crowd to write the phone number 203 – 896-7221 on their arms in case they get arrested. The number is for the National Lawyers Guild. ​“They will contact the CT Bail Fund. And we will come and get you,” he said.

Then, after a moment of silence, the crowd took to Elm Street down State Street and points beyond. It appeared that hundreds were turning into thousands of marchers.

By the time it reached Cafe Nine at State and Crown, the line of marchers extended back to Elm Street.

“That’s how big this movement has grown!” Ochumare declared as marchers up front sang, ​“We’re going to be all right!” danced in place, and waited for others to catch up.

“We don’t leave nobody behind!” declared Youth Coalition organizer Addys Castillo (pictured at left, with State Rep. Robyn Porter).

“We’ve got plenty of time! … We’re going to stay here and take up all the space we want to take up. … We’re shutting this shit down right now!”

Yale medical students stood outside the closed nightclub to distribute face masks to marchers.

“Hands up…” a call-and-response chant began as the march resumed toward the police station …

“… don’t shoot!”

The head of the march arrived outside police headquarters at 1 Union Ave. at 3:57. Ochumare called forward ​“white folks and marshals” to plan next steps. The strategy was to put white people up front and throughout the crowd so they would share in any attacks.

“Use your privilege!” called one marcher.

Unlike at a protest Sunday, the marchers were not greeted by a phalanx of officers guarding the platform by the station’s entrance.

A tent was set up. And off to the side stood Police Chief Otoniel Reyes and his assistant chiefs.

As the crowd assembled for a rally, people sang Stevie Wonder’s ​“Happy Birthday” for Breonna Taylor.

Mayor Justin Elicker (pictured) stood among the protesters at police HQ. Last Sunday, he was inside the station most of the time as demonstrators demanded he come outside, then briefly spoke with them before returning to the station. ​“We reflected on Sunday, and we want to make sure that the police are here to support in solidarity and to keep folks safe,” Elicker said. ​“We want to do everything we can not to create any sort of situation that might escalate. I think we’ve all got to listen, right?”

Amid speeches, Ochumare reminded the crowd that this was a youth-led peaceful protest. She directed ​“rabble-rousers” with different agendas to leave.

“This has been a dream come true. This is like every black princess’s little dream coming true,” said Kharisma Redding, who grew up in New Haven and lives in the Hill neighborhood, as she joined in the chanting outside the police station. ​“We are for the liberation of our people. We are for the freedom of our people. People like me, our ancestors never stopped telling us what the truth was. We belong here. I know who I am. I know who we are. I’m here.”

Board of Education student member Lihame Arouna (pictured) read aloud the Citywide Youth Coalition’s rally demands again, including prosecution of officers who have killed civilians with the ​“full weight of the law.”

Claudette Kidd spoke to the crowd about the need for people of color to attend community management team meetings: ​“Join organizations. Work together. Make change.”

The protest ended shortly after 7 p.m., in a flurry of dancing, singing, and chanting. The crowd left under the overpass at Union Avenue and State Street. ​“No justice, no peace,” they chanted. ​“I can’t breathe.”

A group of about 50 protesters peeled off and briefly blocked the 34 connector, chanting ​“Black lives matter!” Police arrived and explained that they appreciated the protesters’ message, but that the highway needed to be cleared.

“Listen,” a fellow protester shouted to those on the highway through a megaphone. ​“There’s not too much more we can ask for without getting hurt. Today was a victory.” The protesters dispersed.

You can watch the event as it unfolded on our Facebook page, including in the videos below.