Around 70 people rallied in a show of unity on the Library/Community Center lawn on the evening of May 25, promoting the theme of Bridging Communities to Stop the Violence and Advance Racial Equity. Many Greenbelt groups working for justice participated in the rally, including Connecting Across Greenbelt, Drumming for Wellness, Greenbelt Bahá’í Community, Greenbelt Racial Equity Alliance (GREA), Greenbelt Voices Rising, Positive Chalk DC, Prince George’s Changemakers, Prince George’s Peace and Justice Coalition, Strib’ble District, LLC and The SPACE: Free Art For All.
Lois Rosado spoke first, telling the crowd that, “Even though George Floyd’s great-great- grandfather acquired 500 acres of farmland after being freed from slavery, that land was swindled away through tax schemes, and the family ended up as sharecroppers in Texas, a story too familiar to Black families in America.” She also pointed out, in regard to the Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket shooting, “The goal of racial terror lynching is to intimidate a particular population.”
Rosado advocated for the right of people of color to practice self-defense, and advised the crowd to boycott companies whose leadership promotes lies and discrimination.
Councilmember Ric Gordon and Bahá’í speaker Farinaz Firouzi offered opening remarks and prayer. Firouzi advocated for kindness, oneness, justice and unity to rebuild society by bringing forward the advances of the past. “From the coming together of people, the spreaders of truth will be raised up,” she said, quoting Bahá’í writings.
Mayor Emmett Jordan brought greetings and appreciation from Greenbelt City Council. Jordan asked if the last two years had resulted in any positive change, concluding that there are now three African American councilmembers, and that the city is working hard on initiatives with the Greenbelt Police Chief to codify reforms that will make a difference. He also noted that the city is moving forward with the reparations commission. Jordan stated that things have changed “a little. There’s a long, long way to go. Take personal responsibility to carry the passion and the light, and continue to work.”
Greenbelter Lucy Silver spoke, stating that she does not consider herself an activist. “But I just actively care,” she said. She advised starting small and taking steps where you can.
Shaymar Higgs, the current Greenbelt Outstanding Citizen, is the second Black and the youngest person to receive the accolade. His non-profit initiative, based in Beltway Plaza, is called The SPACE, which stands for Sharing Positive Artistic and Creative Energies. “This community was designed for inclusion and we are now moving that needle closer,” he said. “If we can share love, we can make this a more perfect union.” Since the rally was held on the Community Center lawn, the limestone scenes from the Preamble to the Constitution provided an appropriate backdrop for the speakers.
Krystal Oriahda, founder and executive director of Prince George’s Changemakers, said, “We are a group of Black women who formed this organization to break down systems of racism and oppression while centering the experiences and the voices of Black women.” Oriahda pointed out the danger and trauma faced daily by people of color, and stated, “It’s going to take us working together. There’s a lot of hate and trauma on both sides – guilt, shame – that makes it hard for white people to work through it, too.” Her challenge is to “Go that next level. What else can you give of your time and resources? Donate, volunteer, research, mutual aid work, court watch and break down systems of oppression in budgets and policies.” She recommends groups like GREA and Showing Up for Racial Justice (surj.org) to whites who want to learn what Black activists need them to know.
Delegate Alonzo Washington was present at the rally and Donna Edwards, candidate for Congressional District 4, sent greetings via a staff person from her office. Rev. Ray Raysor presented a closing prayer.
Demonstrators walked to Spellman Overpass, where they held signs and wrote chalk messages on the bridge. Cars traveling on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway honked their horns in support of the signs.
