Top 10 of 2020: #1 – A New Revolution Against Racism and for Equality

The New Britain Progressive covered a lot of major news in New Britain during 2020 – much more than just ten top stories. As the New Britain Progressive now presents our traditional Top Ten stories of the year, it is truer now than in the past that it is difficult to name only a few articles as the top among a great deal of important news. But here are a few, in this year’s annual series, that the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of 2020.”

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It was sickening to watch the minutes go by as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck George Floyd, killing him. For Black Americans and other communities of color, it was a particularly brazen example of the unjust realities of life in America under systemic racism. It was a brazen example that sparked protests nationwide, and anti-racism organizing in New Britain. (“Anti-Racism Protests Planned in New Britain“.)

In what was called, “a new revolution,” perhaps two thousand people marched through the streets of New Britain on Sunday, May 31, 2020, demanding equity and changes to end systemic racism and violence. (“‘A New Revolution’ Marches Against Racism“.)

But that historically large march was just the beginning of a summer of protest. Activists began meeting (“People’s March Movement to Hold Meeting Tonight“) and the New Britain NAACP held a Virtual Town Hall with United States Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5) (“U.S. Rep. Hayes to Speak at NAACP #WeAreDoneDying Town Hall“) to discuss policy objectives for the movement, while protest continued (“An Evening of Continuing Activism“). Activists collected thousands of signatures online with demands for city hall and attempted to deliver the petition to Republican Mayor Erin Stewart at a June 2nd “Ride for Unity” event. (“Anti-Racism Group’s Petition Makes Demands of City“.)

On June 5th, there was another large protest march in New Britain. Approximately a thousand people marched and protested for “Peace, Love & Justice”. (“Protesters March for Peace, Love and Justice“.) And in July, the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition held a protest calling for the statue to be removed from its location at McCabe Park, at the corner of Main and North streets. (“Protest Calls for City to Remove Columbus Statue.”) 

Juneteenth of 2020 took on extra meaning, protesting the killing of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and many, many other people of color (“Juneteenth Event Focuses on Activism for Change“), while a CT Peace Fest event was organized in tribute to musical artist Zoe “Gangstalicious” Dowdell, who was killed in a 2017 New Britain police shooting incident (“CT Peace Fest Holding Protest in Tribute to Dowdell“).

As the summer of protest continued, activists and community leaders focused on issues. The Reverend Gervais Barger delivered a statement about the vision of the Black Ministerial Alliance of New Britain for policy and political change against racism and for equality. (“Black Ministerial Alliance Vision Against Racism and for Equality“.) New Britain Human Rights and Opportunities Commission Chair, Jessica Angelo-Julien, wrote that, “change begins and ends with you,” (“Human Rights Chair: ‘Change Begins and Ends With You’“). The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, the Black Ministerial Alliance, NAACP New Britain Branch, the People’s Coalition of Central Connecticut and others called for a “People’s Agenda” with numerous issue demands from the city and state. (“Call Made for a People’s Agenda in New Britain“.) The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition announced its platform, with a broad progressive agenda of policies. (“Racial Justice Coalition Platform Promotes Equality“.)

By the end of 2020, some progress was made on changes the movement had been pressing for, such as the approval of a sweeping, new police accountability state law. But Republicans in a City Council committee voted down creating a community police review board and then Stewart vetoed removing the Christopher Columbus statue from a prominent city park. Some politicians would not say the simple truth that Black lives matter and quickly returned from shallow platitudes during the summer of protest back to the politics of dog-whistle racism during the autumn election season.

Change for real progress can never can occur when the people are not pressing for it. Some politicians oppose progress, but even those who favor equality cannot or will not deliver it to the people against the systems of power – unless the people are making their voices heard, and loudly. People who support racism, inequality and other bad systems can and do also protest loudly, but that is all the more reason for people who want a better, fairer, more equal future to make their voices heard. It can certainly be tough to do against the inevitable pushback. Communities of color protesting against racism are often labeled as “rioters”, and calls for “civility” or “kindness” rise from some quarters to try to silence communities of color and progressives, in general, from expressing strong views against unjust systems.

But, as Frederick Douglass said, “If there is no struggle there is no progress.” If the movement of the summer of protest is to achieve the parts of its agenda not yet won in 2020, that struggle must continue into the new year. With a lot of organizing ahead, New Britain and the nation may yet achieve a new revolution, but the 2020 summer of protest was certainly #1 of the New Britain Progressive‘s Top Ten Stories of 2020.

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‘A New Revolution’ Marches Against Racism

May 31, 2020

Perhaps two thousand people marched through the streets of New Britain on Sunday, May 31, 2020, demanding change in society to end racist inequality and violence.

The rally and march was one of many held nationwide in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The killing of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and other African Americans have sparked vigorous protests against ongoing racism in the nation.

The New Britain protest was led by organizer Tre Brown, Chris Porcher, the 2019 Democratic Mayoral nominee, and Bishop Rha-Sheen Brown of Right New Ministries.

Bishop Brown, before delivering the closing prayer for the demonstration, summed up the moment, calling it, “a new revolution.”

Throughout the protest, speakers talked about the injustice of Black and Latino residents having to live with the very real possibility of being harassed or killed by police officers and others.

Anguished parents spoke of the fear that their children could be killed because of the color of their skin.

Protest leaders spoke about the need for people to make their voices heard, by voting, being counted in the census and speaking up.

The protest began with a rally at the bandshell in Walnut Hill Park.

Protesters then marched to West Main Street, voicing chants, including “Black Lives Matter,” “no justice, no peace,” “I can’t breathe,” “hands-up – don’t shoot,” and others.

The march stopped at Central Park, where leaders spoke.

Marchers proceeded to Chestnut Street, and knelt in protest in front of the New Britain Police station.

The march then proceeded to Frankin Square and stopped again for more words from protest leaders in front of the Superior Courthouse.

Marchers returned down Chestnut Street, down Arch Street and onto Hart Street, where, at the crest of the hill on the street, leaders spoke again.

The marchers ended the long march with another rally at the Darius Miller Bandshell in Walnut Hill park.

Organizers spoke at the closing rally, along with spontaneous speeches from people in attendance, expressing fears and angst from lifetimes experiencing racism and hopes for economic empowerment.

At one point, Bishop Brown pulled money out his own pocket to pay one person who spoke of economic inequality an advance on pay for a job.

Ald. Kristian Rosado (R-2), the City Council’s President Pro-Tempore, spoke, but was shouted down when he suggested that the New Britain was not a place where the problems communities of color experience nationwide occur.

New Britain Police Chief Christopher Chute spoke to rally attendees, saying, to cheers, that the killing of Floyd by Minneapolis police officers was, “straight up murder.” Saying that he has not slept since he saw the video of the killing, Chute said that he is, “upset that the three other officers have not been arrested.”

When Bishop Brown challenged Chute to say that, “Black lives matter,” Chute replied, “Black lives do matter.”

At the conclusion of the rally, Bishop Brown challenged those in attendance to continue the momentum of the protest by participating in building practical change in the city. He invited people to attend a session to begin that work on Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:00pm at Right Now Ministries, which is located at 147 West Main Street.

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Protesters March for Peace, Love and Justice

June 5, 2020

Approximately a thousand people marched and protested in New Britain on Friday, June 5, 2020, as activists continue to rally against racism and for change.

The rally organizers called an event for “Peace, Love & Justice,” to march, “protesting against racism” drew a large crowd of protesters on the hot early summer afternoon.

Organizers had called on people to arrive a 12:00noon for “group discussions and workshops to create signs and posters.”

Later, protesters marched in a circle to Arch Street, to downtown and then back up West Main Street and into the Darius Miller Bandshell in Walnut Hill Park.

Protests have been continuing nationwide in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The killing of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and other African Americans have sparked vigorous protests against ongoing racism in the nation.

Friday’s protest is only the latest in a series of events and marches in New Britain over the past week.

Perhaps two thousand people marched through the streets of New Britain on Sunday, May 31st, in an historic protest for change in society and an end racist inequality and violence.

On Tuesday, June 2nd, there were at least four different events.

More than one hundred people joined online as United States Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5) and other leaders spoke at a Virtual Town Hall Conversation held by the NAACP New Britain Branch to start discussions on a New Britain Black Community Agenda. At the same time a “Ride for Unity” event was held, starting in Willow Brook Park, against racism.

After a community organizing meeting was held at Right Now Ministries on Tuesday, an emotional candlelight vigil was held in Walnut Hill Park at which Tre Brown and Bishop Rha-Sheen Brown read the names of Black people who had been killed by police and others and the circumstances of many of the cases.

Thousands of people have also apparently signed an online petition calling on the city to agree to a series of demands for “racial justice policies in New Britain.” As of 8:45pm on June 5, 2020, more than 7,400 people appear to have signed the petition, posted to the site Change.org.

Meanwhile, organizers have been continually working to maintain the momentum of the burgeoning movement, to keep people in the movement unified and to build and organize around concrete goals.

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Juneteenth Event Focuses on Activism for Change

June 20, 2020

The afternoon summer heat did not deter the commitment of marchers and protesters who celebrated Juneteenth and called for an end to systemic racism.

The Juneteenth Unity Event was held in Walnut Hill Park on June 20, 2020, to, as activists said, “observe and commemorate the emanicipation of former enslaved Africans in the Confederacy.”

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, says that, when the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863,

not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be kn

But the event was focused on activism needed to create change in the country today.

At the event, music played at the Darius Miller Bandshell, while people visited voter registration and information booths on the park road below.

Young people read aloud the stories of Black Americans killed by police violence in the country or whose pleas for aid from police from violence were ignored.

Then protesters organized into a march around the park of the historic city park. Marchers walked in silence, as ministers leading them read the names of Black and Latino people killed by police violence.

The event was the latest of numerous events and much activism going on in New Britain in recent weeks, as people are calling for an end to racism and racist institutions and for equality.

Massive protests have been ongoing nationwide, including in New Britain, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The killing of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, other African Americans and, most recently, Rayshard Brooks, have sparked vigorous protests against ongoing racism in the nation.

Perhaps two thousand people marched through the streets of New Britain on Sunday, May 31st, 2020, in an historic protest for change in society and an end racist inequality and violence. Protests and activism in the city have continued since, while activists are pressing for reforms against racism and inequality.