A Solidarity Protest for Black Lives Matter and George Floyd was held on the Milford Green on Monday, June 8. Over 1,000 people gathered on the Green to stand and kneel in solidarity against racism and police brutality. Many of those in attendance had ties to Jonathan Law, including current students, alumni, teachers, and administrators. Here are some of their reflections on the event:

Alexis Agyemang, Jonathan Law junior

(The following statement from Alexis was read at the protest.)

Hello, everyone. Although I cannot be with you all today I wanted to say something. While you are protesting make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Today is to show solidarity not for Instagram pictures or to meet up with friends. This is not for social gain. You are here to show your support for the black community. You are here to fight for our lives. This is a serious issue that black people go through everyday, and we refuse to let anyone make this into something it’s not. You are surrounded by black culture daily without any realization. Even this microphone was even created by a black man, James E. West in 1964. So make sure your heart is in the right place. Lastly, my question to you is what are you going to do after this protest? How will you ensure that you’ve made a change? Telling us is one thing but you need to show us as well. Hopefully, coming together can demonstrate to other places that a change needs to happen.

Rohin Manohar, Jonathan Law senior

Seeing so many Milford residents at the green supporting the Black Lives Matter movement was beautiful. So many people came out to show their solidarity and to further educate themselves about the systemic (and covert) racism in America. The speakers were incredible and helped open our eyes to the racism that exists in Milford. The speakers reinforced the importance of continuing to educate ourselves after the event and doing as much as we can to support the movement. Attending the protest was genuinely one of the most valuable experiences of my life. One of the best moments was when the whole green took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, holding up a fist to show solidarity for the Black community.

Tasbita Ahmed, Jonathan Law senior

I went to the BLM protest because I knew this was an incredible opportunity that will probably not happen again for many years. A peaceful protest 5 minutes away from my house where I could learn more about the movement and listen in person to these voices. I wanted to hear the stories that are often ignored and normalized in society. I also wanted to show my support and learn more about my community and the people around me. Being there and seeing the diverse population that showed up and the sheer amount was very inspiring. Listening to people’s hurt and the way racism has affected them in my own state was really impactful but also brought hope that if people finally were listening, change can be made. It was completely worth going for me and seeing all the support there made me really happy that people were acknowledging racism as an issue.

Ms. Kelly, Jonathan Law English teacher

I was so excited that Milford came together as a community this past Monday to show, not only our support for our black community members, but to also show our intolerance of racism in any form. I was able to support Hartford in their march led by great organizers and black female civil rights lawyers who spoke about how the importance of education is the key to ending racism in all it’s forms. The Black Lives Matter movement is close to my heart. I have two brothers that are the same age, one who is black and one who is white. I had the illuminating experience of watching their paralleled but different lives. Recognizing that racism exists and is a product of an institution that in itself is based on racist ideals is the first step in changing such a system. It’s my privilege and my honor to be a teacher in Milford, and I want to work hard to put the voices of IBPOC at the forefront. I can’t wait for all of us to step up and deter racism in all forms. This will give our black students more opportunity, more voice, and more protection than any generation in America’s history.

Ms. Doolan, Jonathan Law math teacher

I chose to attend the solidarity protest in Milford because it is a community that I am a part of as a Milford teacher. It was very eye-opening to hear people from the Milford community tell their stories. There was one speaker whose story resonated the most with me. There was a mother who spoke about her experience at a neighborhood park in Milford, where she had the police called on her and was told that she and her children had to leave the park. I was at that very same neighborhood park about a week before that mother and her children. No one called the police on me or told me I had to leave. I was at that park for a little over an hour and not once was I told to leave. Plenty of cars drove by, there were other people at the park, and yet no one told me to leave. I’m not a Milford resident, but no one told me to leave. I was there with a friend, who is a young, white female like myself, and no one told us to leave. When I heard this mother tell her story, I had tears in my eyes. I could not believe that this was the same park that I had just been at – but that is just one example of my white privilege, being able to go to a park without being asked to leave. The message at the end of the solidarity protest is one that I will remember and take with me: “I will wake up, I will speak up, I will stand up.” Someone at the park that day should have spoken up and stood up for that mother and her children.

Ms. Reed, Jonathan Law English teacher

Thank you to the organizers of yesterday’s protest who provided a peaceful platform for Milford to show support and solidarity towards the Black community during this painful and momentous time. Milford stood, kneeled, chanted, and listened – now, Milford must continue doing the work.  #BLACKLIVESMATTER

Mrs. Mercaldi, Jonathan Law science teacher

The energy at the event was a lot like the proverb “still rivers run deep.” There was a sense of calm but with a powerful undercurrent meant to inspire change. It would be difficult to not be swept up in the eloquent words of those who spoke, especially for individuals so young. The 8 mins and 46 secs that we knelt in remembrance of George Floyd’s final time on Earth made the most impact on me. I didn’t realize how long that time would be until I was kneeling with a fist in the air for the entirety. I went to the event to show our students that I stand with them and I will always be there to help them move forward.

Mrs. Francisco, Jonathan Law math teacher

I am usually not someone who voices my opinion on political matters or any matter that causes tension, but I now realize that is not the best idea. As a teacher, I want my students to know I care about each and every one of them and am an ally, so I wanted to prove that to them by going to the rally in Milford. I was going to post a picture on my Instagram to let my students know how much I care, but after listening to Alexis’s speech at the rally, I decided to live in the moment instead. Being at this rally made me realize how important it is to put our phones down and listen to one another. I hope that we can do better as a community and I can do better as a teacher.

Kira Ortoleva, event organizer and Jonathan Law alum

(The following is an excerpt the speech that Ortoleva read at the protest. Quotes courtesy The New Haven Register)

We are gathered here today because of so many names that some of us may recognize, while some of us may not. I am here to make you understand…to understand the black community, the pain that they feel as they watch (loved ones) die in front of their own eyes. No one should have to experience this. We have waited too long for change. We are not born to hate one another; it has been taught. I cannot understand the reasoning behind the groups that disagree. Although they have all the right (to reason that way). We are not here to hurt you. We are here because if you were being killed, we would help you, we would save your life. But you would not do the same. We say black lives matter because the black community is suffering, because they will suffer because of their skin color. That does not mean we see white skin and we say you have never experienced pain, that you have never experienced hurt. We say that you will experience hardships but not because of your skin color.

Cindy Wolfe Boynton, Milford Board of Education member, author, teacher, and Jonathan Law alum

(The following is an excerpt of the speech Mrs. Wolfe Boynton read at the protest. Quotes courtesy The New Haven Register)

“We are here today, because we want people of color to know we are against racism. We who are white here today, we can hear (the speaker’s stories) but we cannot to teach us about race or racism. They can share their stories so that we can better understand them, but we as white people truly want to make a difference in eradicating racism, ensuring that all people are treated with fairness and justice than we as whites need to understand our own stories first…The question of who I want to be, leads me to ask this, do I want to stay safely in my bubble, let others do the work to eradicate racism because I’m so afraid of criticism or that I could have been guilty as part of the larger problem. Or do I want to be someone that admits that I might have racist tendencies.”