Friend sparks protest for racial justice
A Quaker in St Neots sparked a socially-distanced rally for racial justice
A Friend from St Neots Meeting sparked a rally for racial justice after a session on lockdown activism prompted her to take a stand.
Christine Green, clerk of the Meeting, told the Friend: ‘The spirit struck a match – and created an unexpected fire. At the Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) summer series, we explored activism in a time of lockdown, with the concern of justice for black people very alive in my heart. I experienced a strong calling to speak out. Within seconds, I wrote in the chat box that the next day at 2pm I would stand on the market square, with a placard asking for justice for black lives.’
She later announced her intention on her town’s Facebook page inviting passers-by to join at a two-metre distance. A local newspaper and radio station then contacted her and ran stories on her action, including a radio interview the next morning.
Six hundred Facebook comments later – ‘many wanting to join, many questioning the wisdom of this in lockdown’ – and after getting approval from the police, she arrived at the square on 3 June to find one hundred people already there. ‘Over half of these [were] teenagers and young adults, all respectfully distanced,’ she said. ‘To ensure we didn’t take up too much room, after fifteen minutes I led a procession over the town bridge to a large park, where some of us gave short speeches and the press interviewed people… The heartfelt messages on hastily created cardboard placards, the thoughtful speeches, the outpouring of gratitude for the chance to publicly express feelings – all borne of that sudden call during the QPSW session the day before.’
