The inaugural ninth grade class at the South Bronx Community Charter High School are on their way to being movers and shakers in the city. Through an organized effort with Black Lives Matter they led a crowd of over 500 people to march for a National Day of Remembrance for victims of police brutality.
“It’s just messed up, it made me feel enraged like why are you taking our lives away?” says student Shaniya Dillehay, referring to the death of Deborah Danner who was shot by a NYPD sergeant in her Bronx apartment on October 18.
According to her STEM teacher Mario Benabe the 14 and 15 year olds were troubled by the victimization of someone from their community. So much so that they used the opportunity to organize young people to actively fight for justice.
It seemed to be a natural effort for students who are used to working on both independent and cooperative projects. Their charter school is one of only 6 other project based learning environments in the city.
Project based schools “have kids organized around a central theme or a idea and do a deep dive discovery, and then actually produce some original work as a result of it. So they’re constantly in the mode of creator and leader.” says Harvey Chisms, Founder and executive Director of SBCCHS.
One school-wide project titled “The DREAM” energized the students as they were sent out to survey their community members on their definition of the American Dream. While canvassing, a group met Hawk Newsome the local spokesman of the BLM movement and attempted to survey him.
The results of the encounter ended with Newsome being invited to the school to sit down with leadership to discuss what students were working on, and the priorities of BLM.
With all things approved by leadership, the school started revving its engine.
“As soon as they told us everyone wanted to do it and be a part of it” says student Brianna Vasquez, 14, Harlem.
“Letters were delivered November 17th to the District Attorney’s Office exactly one month after Deborah Danner was murdered in her own home.” says Mr. Benabe.
Two weeks later on December 3rd, the students marched down Lexington Avenue with courage, joy, and a sense of community.
“Our community is being formed because we all gathering together, and making sure that during this protest that everybody is safe and sound, making sure that we all have companionship.” says student Julian Norales.
“The purpose of the march is that they want their representatives to mark today, the third [of December], a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives due to police brutality and racism.” says Elhadj Bah, political consultant, of Parkchester.
“It was something that collectively, that students felt they should act the part to be able to highlight a day of remembrance for folks who have lost their lives at the hands of police brutality.” says Mr. Benabe.
“It’s a student led march which made it even greater, because us kids we were marching, we helped organize the march, it was us, fourteen year olds and fifteen year olds” says student Bentu Saho.
People walking and shopping around Harlem at 12 pm were shocked to see the 14 year olds at the helm of such a large group. The 12 busy lanes of the intersection between 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd were momentarily silenced by the organized entrance into the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Office Building.
Chants of “No justice, no peace”, “Black lives matter”, and the infamous “I can’t breathe” could be heard from several blocks away as the marchers strode their way down Malcolm X Boulevard.
December 3rd, 2014 the Staten Island grand jury declined to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed African American man who was selling loose cigarettes outside of the Staten Island Ferry. The officer used an illegal chokehold on Mr. Garner leading him to cry out “I can’t breathe”, a phrase that is now associated with the Black Lives Matter movement two years later.
Activists chose to march on December 3rd, 2016 to revive the memory of Eric Garner and other victims of police brutality and force politicians to observe a National Day of Remembrance.
There was an air of safety as the protest was heavily secured by police officers escorting and marching alongside the activists. The statue and steps surrounding the Theodore Roosevelt Statue were gated to prevent any vandalization and to contain the group of people on the sidewalk.
According to Newsome this statue, depicting President Theodore Roosevelt riding a horse while a Native American and an African American hold his boots, is a symbol of the history of racism and oppression in America.
The scene at the Museum of Natural History was controlled. Tourists and New Yorkers alike stopped what they were doing and moved in a mob like fashion to see what was going on in the street. Children hopped on their parents backs and people busted out their smartphones to record the event. On the street, some cars with a view of the action were honking to show support. From the outside one could see drivers fists being pumped into the air as a sign of their approval.
It resembled the practice at SBCCHS where one raises their hand in the air with a peace sign to gather every bodies attention and reach silence. When silent the group of 106 students begin their libations and community building with a single word and some intent, Ashé (osh-AY).
With this word they begin a call and response activity where the leader, which changes daily, sends out a positive message with intent for the group followed by “Ashé”.
“Let there be laughter in the halls.”
“Ashé”
“Let us be heard.”
“Ashé”
ON THE MARCH