The first of three solidarity events in London meant to honour two black men killed by police in the US is opening the dialogue about racial injustice.
The Circle of Solidarity, was held in Victoria Park on Thursday. The event was planned in the wake of the high profile fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in the United States. The two black men who were shot and killed by police officers last week.
People around the world voiced anger towards the shootings, with marches and protests taking place across America. But not much has happened in London, until now.
Event Organizer Sheina Hemstreet says felt compelled to do something to show support for the men and their families.
A self-proclaimed “hippie” who’s goal is to keep “spreading love “, she organized the solidarity event based off of personal relationships impacted by the shootings, and to raise awareness of racial violence.
"There are people in my life who actually made me realize recently that this is a problem,” Hemstreet says. “It is a serious problem, it's deep seeded racism."
Following a string of black men being shot by white officers in the United States, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement picked up traction, with goals to raise awareness to the issue. Although Hemstreet doesn’t necessarily identify as an activist for BLM, she feels their pain and rallies behind their ideals.
"I recognize what they are trying to say. I think that it's completely legitimate, and I think that for hundreds of years they have been trying to get this point across,” says Hemstreet.
Toni Taylor, who is very public in her support and advocacy for BLM, joined the Circle of Solidarity.
She was touched to see Hemstreet organize the event, and thinks that it’s a step in the right direction.
"It means that people are listening, and people are paying attention, and more people than me want change, and that's the biggest meaning for me,” says Taylor.
She says that the BLM isn’t asking for anything extreme, just to belong. 0 "It feels like our people don't matter and we want to matter, we want to be just as important as the next person,” says Taylor. “Not more important, just as important."
Taylor feels let down by BLM opposition, who use the phrase ‘All Lives Matter’ to contradict the perceived exclusivity that BLM hosts.
"When people say 'all lives matter', it's to shut up people who are saying 'black lives matter',” says Taylor. "Everybody matters, but they don't understand the undertones that's happening when they're saying that. It's kind of saying all lives matter, and we're saying, 'all lives will matter, when you realize that black lives matter as well'."
However, she doesn’t condone violence, like the Dallas shooting which claimed the lives of five police officers.
"Killing people is not the answer,” Taylor says. "There's more people hurting, what's that doing? We need to get rid of the hurt and start bandaiding some of the pain and scars."
Two other events are being held in London to pay tribute to Sterling and Castile. A vigil in their honour is being held in front of City Hall from 5pm to 8pm on Friday, while a silent march and procession is scheduled Saturday from 4pm-5pm in Victoria Park
**This story was written by Samuel Gallant. Samuel is a student in the Fanshawe College broadcast journalism program. He is performing a summer internship with Blackburn News.**
