Published: 7/26/2020 6:54:31 PM
NORTHAMPTON — As rallies for the Black Lives Matter movement and against institutional racism take place across the country, worries are growing about the actions of armed federal agents, at the direction of President Donald Trump, aiming to stop these largely peaceful protests.
When Becky Castro of Northampton saw mothers in Portland, Oregon, this past week support protesters by forming a human wall to protect them from arrest, and having tear gas sprayed at them for their defiance, she wanted to have a local version of this Wall of Moms.
“This is outrageous, this doesn’t happen in America, and shouldn’t happen anywhere,” Castro said of what Trump is calling Operation Legend, a $61 million program that has used the Border Patrol Tactical Unit to haul away protesters in unmarked cars after others have been beaten and pepper-sprayed to quell the protests.
“It’s frightening what’s going on, and it’s unconstitutional,” Castro said.
On Sunday afternoon, Castro and more than 25 others stood along Route 9 just west of the Coolidge Bridge to make their voices heard.
Lisa Zadworny of Leeds held a sign containing a quote from Bishop Desmond Tutu about how being neutral in times of injustice was putting oneself on the side of the oppressor, and the phrase “never again,” reflecting the importance that the Holocaust not be forgotten.
Zadworny, inspired to participate by her daughter, said as an elementary school teacher she always found ways to get social justice in the curriculum, adding that what is happening in Portland is all too familiar.
A Black Lives Matter sign illustrating intersectional solidarity with queer Blacks, trans Blacks and Blacks from all backgrounds was held by Kasha Zadworny.
“I feel like the younger generation has become increasingly responsible for injustice,” Kasha Zadworny said. “Our basic civic duty is to respect people.”
Andrée Leblanc-Ross, another organizer of the local event, said it is important to show solidarity with and pay attention to how those who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color are being impacted by police.
“The reason I think it’s important for white people to show up is to continue to demand Black lives be prioritized and that the system of white oppression be dismantled,” Leblanc-Ross said.
Castro said the governor of Oregon and the mayor of Portland have asked the federal agents to evacuate the city, and Oregon’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, accusing it of unlawfully detaining protesters.
“I’m outraged at Trump,” Castro said. “I think he’s losing and he’s grasping at ways of dividing Americans.”
Castro said it’s sad that George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police officers in May has been a wake-up call, even though there have been other high-profile police-related deaths of Black individuals, such as Eric Garner in New York in 2014.
“Most people are peacefully protesting because Black people are being murdered in the street, and they want money to be reallocated from police departments,” Castro said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
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