FROM THE HOME FRONTS OF FLOYD AND COVID-19

AHJONI WILSON/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER People from all walks gather at City Hall in Newark, , May 30 to protest issues of racial injustice and face after the wrongful death of George Floyd by police May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A PEACEFUL PROTEST PREVAILS arrests being made, New Jersey Governor Phil Newark’s 1967 riots spark a grim Murphy praised the city of Newark for its civil Riots of 1967 grim reminderapproach during the of city’s theprotest, consideringpast reminder of past struggles and fresh its reputation of being one of the most dangerous call to challenge for work to be done cities in New Jersey. Eighty-eight-year-old Newark resident BY WAKEELAH BASHIR Geraldine Little recalled the restless week in Freelance Writer , describing it as a civil war between the Newark police and Newark residents. NEWARK, N.J. – Nearly 53 years ago during “I was around the age of 35 at the time and the 1967 Newark riots, residents protested I remember being terrified about what was violently in response to the community’s happening in our community,” Little said. “The mistreatment by those who were sworn to riots began after a taxi driver was pulled over protect them—the police. and beaten by a Newark police officer and at the Contrary to the initiative the community is time the Newark Police Department didn’t have taking to end police brutality today, residents black officers.” from all over New Jersey rallied together May Today 34% of Newark’s police force is 30 in Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, to African American. protest peacefully and bring awareness to racial Little recalled the Newark riots as Newark’s injustice and police brutality following the death way of expressing their frustrations in the of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis, community. Minnesota. “I am proud of this generation of leaders. After a weekend without any violence or See PEACEFUL/Page 2

Jersey’s population at 59%. “Marching along with 12,000 other protesters PEACEFUL I felt empowered; I was proud to be a part of something that is a part of our history,” Rosado Continued from 1 said. “All lives won’t matter until black lives do.” They wanted to make a change and they did it And it’s because of that sentiment residents peacefully,” Little said, commending protesters like longtime Newark resident Benjamin Saah, who participated in last weekend’s peaceful who is the caretaker for his father, said he felt protest. “Newark has come a long way since the compelled and obligated to share different ways 1967 riots, but there is still work to be done.” to support the movement. While Saah wanted to Many students from local New Jersey participate physically in the protests, he could universities and New Jersey natives wanted their not because of his caretaker role and voices to be heard during last weekend’s responsibilities. protest—which would turn out to be a different “My father is older in age and we have to outcome than the 1967 riots. Ahjoni Wilson, a keep in mind that we are still fighting a Newark resident and Rutgers University student, pandemic (COVID-19) that has taken the lives savored the lifetime experience, capturing the of many African Americans,” Saah said. “I am mass gathering through her camera lens. all for protesting, but I have to look after my “There was a feeling of unity in the air, a father, so instead I spread the word through feeling that is very familiar to me when I’m social media to get others to protest.” surrounded by people that look like me,” Wilson He said that concerned civic-minded people said, in describing her euphoric experience. need to understand that “being part of the “Being from Newark means that people hear and movement is to reach out to your community assume the worst, but the fact that Newark leaders to express your concerns.” conducted a peaceful protest made me a proud Major U.S. cities across the country and the Newark native.” world continue to protest—some peacefully, and The death of some destructively. George Floyd Newark continues to promote peaceful has brought protest as it advocates the fight for social people from equality and justice for all, said activist and different protester Duran Childs. backgrounds “Protesting is our way of expressing our and ethnicities frustrations. By us protesting we are allowing together to bring our voices to be heard,” Childs said, in sharing an end to the his thoughts and personal perspective on the injustice that importance of protesting. “I hope that one day people of color we are all able to come together, peacefully, as have endured. one.” Twenty-two- Gov. Murphy spoke candidly about the WAKEELAH BASHIR/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER year-old Isaiah Gov. Phil Murphy speaks at a changes that would be made in efforts to fight Rosado, a June 7 Westfield, New Jersey, the inequality that African Americans face in Latino Newark rally with other local officials and America. He further expressed his support by resident, said leaders advocating for social and participating in other rallies and protests around that being racial equality. New Jersey later that week to help spread

Latino and having a friend-group that is majority awareness on police brutality and racial African American, he felt like it was his injustice. obligation to come and support his friends. “We will not accept systemic racism and Notably, African Americans make up 13% of bias; we will continue to fight against racism,” New Jersey’s demographic, while white Murphy said. Color is not a crime; black lives Americans comprise the vast majority of New matter.”

Wakeelah Bashir lives in Newark, New Jersey, and attends Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, Hampton, Virginia.