Student Involvement in Civil Rights

Since George Floyd’s tragic death in May, cities all over America have witnessed marches, rallies, and protests in support of civil rights and the Black Lives Matter movements. Of the millions who attended and continue to support these protests, over 60%, a staggering majority, were between the ages of 16-30, placing the youngest generations at the center of the movement. For this issue, we wanted to have a platform where Alsion students could share their experiences about participating in the movement. 

“I was inspired by my friends [who] felt very strongly about this and encouraged me to go to a protest. I am actually really happy I went because it made me feel like I was a part of something, and that I was a part of making a change.”

-Ami Arivazhagan (8th grade) about a peaceful protest

“My mom and I heard about it through Instagram and we wanted to do something to show solidarity so we joined the march for some time. I felt like I needed to attend this protest because it was probably the best way for me to get involved in this cause, due to how awful George Floyd’s death was. I was outraged more than anything because of the brutal nature of how he was killed and simply at the fact that America still has so many instances of police brutality and racial discrimination. The protest itself was a bit scary at first- there were police cars along the line of people and at every intersection around us, and I was nervous that something bad would happen to us. Mostly, though, I felt like I was a part of something important and that, in my own way, I was contributing to history. There were so many people there and it had this sense of solidarity and anger towards what had happened.”

-Anya Patri (9th grade) who attended protests in Fremont and Newark

“I attended about three protests/marches over the course of this summer. They were all associated with the BLM movement and very local. Despite not being as large as some of the other protests that we’ve seen across the nation, it was still a very empowering experience. Over the past summer, many have been advocating for these important causes on platforms such as Instagram. However, what really pushed me to attend these protests even while in a global pandemic was the feeling of helplessness. You can repost as many images as you want (and they definitely make a difference), but I wanted to be part of the action. Although I’m only one person, every voice matters. All these events were truly experiences that I will never forget.”

-Armaan Sharma (8th grade) on several protests throughout the summer

“On June 6th, I attended a Fremont BLM protest with my family and some neighbors. To me, Fremont is a relatively small city and I was surprised that there was going to be a protest, but I wanted to go to support the movement. I learned about the protest from a friend’s instagram repost and I think that just goes to show the power of social media and activism. Many people, the older generations especially, think that simply reposting things on the internet doesn’t do anything and won’t inspire change. I think not. On the one hand, me simply reposting a BLM infographic to my very progressive, Gen-Z followers might not change any minds but I can also share links to petitions, fliers to protests, and information on places to donate to help the movement. I think social media can inspire a lot of change and my generation will be leading that change. I know with a global pandemic going on, going to rallies and protests can be risky, but I was impressed to see everyone in the protest with a mask on. Despite what the media might say, all these BLM protests are peaceful and well-intentioned, and I’m proud and grateful for my generation being a part of this change.”

-Avani Sethi (11th grader) 

“In light of George Floyd’s murder, there was a mass increase of involovemnet in the Black Lives Matter movement. While the BLM movement is nothing new, as the movement itself was founded in 2013, for many in our generation, this spark of protests and marches was something never before seen. I remember in 2016, when visiting Chicago, I found myself in Grant Park in the middle of one of the many protests that happened in the city. I was 13 at the time and not aware of what was happening around me. Now, in 2020, while yes I am older and make more of an effort of being aware of the current situations, I can understand and appreciate the role social media plays. Four years ago I was not very active on Instagram and did not follow people who were actively posting about the BLM movement, for example. This summer, I made a conscious decision to research as much as I could, sign petitions, donate to organizations, share and repost valuable information I found on Instagram and participate in marches. I attended two Fremont protests in June. To be honest, I was surprised how large the turnout was. Having spent the last two months in my house only coming in contact with my parents and brother, it was strange to be outside in a large group of people walking around the city. But, regardless of this fear and risk of getting the coronavirus, I believe fighting for racial equality and human rights, and against the broken justice system is far more important. I find it ridiculous that after the abolishment of slavery, several civil rights movements, and witnessing the horifying deaths of numerous black people, our country is still struggling to understand that we are built on a fundementally injust system that is in desperate need of reform. I have always been taught by my parents that I need to stand up for what I believe in. Attending these protests and being active on social media makes me feel like I have a voice and a part of the change. While there are no current protests or marches in Fremont, I will continue to do my part in bringing awareness to current issues because this fight is not over yet.” 

– Diana Barbacioru (12th grade)

“I felt the need to attend because, like the right to vote, protest is one of the best methods we have to express our opinions and use our voices and collective strength to fight as a community against injustices and push forward for the future. And also, since I can’t vote, what I CAN do is assemble alongside other people in the community to amplify the message that Black Lives Matter. The BLM protest made me hopeful, because I saw that there were a number of people both in Fremont and all across [the] country and even in different parts of the world who did not turn a blind eye to injustices, and I was hopeful that a movement so large could spur real, lasting change.”

-Anonymous

“It was an invaluable experience to get to see so many people coming out in solidarity to listen to those within our community who have faced this battle their entire lives and march through the main street of north Fremont to increase awareness and demand change at a local and national level. The entire march people continuously chanted sayings like “Say her name…Breonna Taylor” and “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police,” rotating between different chant leaders. It was a chilling experience to kneel in pin drop silence while being surrounded by hundreds of people. We marched from city hall and paused near Fremont Boulevard to silently kneel for 8 minutes and 46 [seconds] to commemorate the memory of George Floyd.”

-Ayesha Ashraf (11th grade)