By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

In the wake of the senseless death of George Floyd, the Pennsauken community came together to take a stand against racism. On June 10, hundreds gathered in the parking lot of the World Harvest Christian Center for the ‘Sauken In Solidarity/Black Lives Matter march and vigil. The event was organized by four students from Pennsauken High School, Aigner Settles, Ciara Carver, Keturah Jones, and Angela Nguyen, as well as residents Jenny Bello and Jazmin Bello-Andeliz, who reached out to both the Township’s administration and the Pennsauken Police Department, in order to facilitate a peaceful protest.

“These women collectively worked together for our community,” said Pennsauken Mayor Tim Killion, who publicly thanked the organizers during the event. “They reinforce once again what Pennsauken Proud is all about.”

Prior to the march, the crowd heard from Pastor Joshua Jackson, one of the chaplains for the Pennsauken Township Police Department. Jackson spoke about how those gathered were not taking the easy way out, but ready to do what was hard to implement real change.

“We came here tonight to acknowledge the fact that yes, there are problems and racial injustices in our country. Yes, even our state may have some issues in its borders. But not here in Pennsauken,” said Jackson. “We promise tonight to not be a part of the problem. But we will be part of the solution. We will call out racial injustices when we see them, whenever and wherever. We will stand united.

“What could George Floyd have done with just one more breath? You can be his breath. You can speak to those who are misunderstood, mistreated, and forgot about. It’s time for us to rise to the occasion, because we can’t settle for being divided. We have to be united as a people. If we do that, we’ll finally live up to our pledge as a country: to be one nation, one people, under a holy God, indivisible and inseparable with liberty and justice for all people.”

Hundreds marched down Westfield Ave., a sea of people holding signs and banners, chanting slogans calling for change. The peaceful protestors then made their way to the Community Recreation Complex. The Township set up its stage so that the organizers could have their message heard. The first speaker was Keturah Jones, who stressed the importance of fighting the ignorance that leads to racial prejudice.

“There can’t be any unity until we acknowledge the injustices occurring every day. You can’t tell me you don’t see color, that doesn’t do anything. You have to see my color,” spoke Jones. “True reform starts here in this community. We need to educate ourselves and others on these topics and combat this ignorance. We have to stop being comfortable. Complacency will change nothing.”

“It is not enough to not be racist. You have to be anti-racist. You have to sign petitions; you have to make calls, to be vocal. There will always be people who will try to silence us. But we have to fight and keep pushing.”

“Racism has run rampant in this country since 1619. We can’t choose to ignore it. We must turn this reality into a distant memory,” added fellow organizer Aigner Settles. “And how do we do that? By simply starting a conversation. Will these conversations be uncomfortable? Yes. But without those conversations, it will be impossible to eliminate the disease of racism. Everyone needs to use their voice in this issue. Racism is no longer a black issue; it is a human issue and everyone must come together. Words without actions are meaningless. Do not let your activism end here. We cannot let our voices go silent.”

Thomas Dyer, a graduate of PHS and current political science student at Temple University in Philadelphia, spoke about his list, “Things I cannot do while black.”

“I can’t drive while black. I can’t be stopped by an officer and reach for my license and registration while black. I can’t enter my own apartment complex without someone asking, ‘do I live here?’ while black. I can’t swim in my own pool while black. I can’t take a morning jog while black. I can’t have a barbeque or a gathering without having the cops being called on me while black. And now, I can’t even breathe while black,” said Dyer. “Let’s change this country, so that our future sons and daughters won’t have to fear walking down the street. So they don’t have to fear when the police pull them over. Let’s change this country to the point where upcoming generations don’t even know what a racial slur is. Let’s change this country so that the so-called ‘Land of the Free and Home of the Brave’ actually has meaning.”

Satta Massaquoi, another PHS student, recited an original poem, which spoke to the generational aspects of racism, and how it’s being fought against.

“At our core, we are people aching to be seen, to be heard, to be part of the conversation,” said Massaqui. “We kneel, we march, we protest. We’ve proven that we can’t be silenced. Our human rights are not your politics.”

Several officers from the Pennsauken Township Police Department participated in the march, with Police Chief John Nettleton addressing the crowd, expressing his disgust for the behavior that lead to George Floyd’s death.

“The tragic events that occurred on May 25, 2020 to George Floyd at the hands of the officers in Minnesota were beyond disturbing. I hate to even refer to them as officers. We, the members of the Pennsauken Police Department, are hurting with you,” said Nettleton. “We hear you and I think it’s important that the residents of Pennsauken Township hear the chief of police say that Black Lives Matter to the Pennsauken Police Department.”

A candlelight vigil followed, with a moment of silence that lasted for eight minutes, 46 seconds, in honor of George Floyd’s memory. The silence was significant and was in stark contrast to the chants that echoed out during the march down Westfield Ave. Families and friends; teachers and students; police officers and public officials, all bent on one knee and made a real statement that racism and hate were not welcome in Pennsauken.

In closing, Mayor Killion echoed the sentiments shared by all those in attendance: that we all must be the change that stops racism.

“We can do better, we should do better, we must do better. When we talk about ‘Sauken in Solidarity’ and ‘One Pennsauken,’ this is what it’s all about. It’s working together, it’s talking with each other, it’s dealing with hard realities, it’s understanding others. It’s being caring and compassionate for others. It’s supporting and standing up when something isn’t right,” said Killion. “We came together, because we care. We came together, because we want change. We came together, because Black Lives Matter. We are friends, we are neighbors, we are one Pennsauken.”