On Monday, young people from all over the North Shore gathered at the Grant Circle Rotary in Gloucester to peacefully protest the death of George Floyd and to raise awareness about racial violence. The event was organized by Jada Exama, 14, Ella Anderson, 14, and Camilla Wilkins-Bowen, 15, the founders of the Youth Peace Movement of Gloucester.
Wearing black and carrying signs, the group, which grew to an estimated 300 people, including many young people from Essex and Manchester, lined the rotary while cars passing by honked and waved in support.
Local youth were not alone in supporting this national public awareness movement. Also in attendance, standing with them, were Massachusetts Senate Republican Leader Bruce Tarr, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, and Gloucester Police Chief Edward G. Conley. (Prior to taking up his post in Gloucester in April, 2019, Conley had served as police chief in Manchester.) They were joined by Jada, Ella, and Camilla, Chief Conley and others from the Youth Peace Movement took a knee and sat in silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck. “We felt like our voices were heard today,” Wilkins-Bowen said. “The community stepped up.”
Maggie Whitman, a ten-year-old from Essex shared, “It was amazing to see how many people really care enough to do something about it, even if it was just a honk. I was surprised at how many people didn’t honk though. Some people looked away. I am not exactly happy, but I am glad I went. It felt like the right thing to do. I think we will really make a difference. I hope this helps people see that we are all people.”
