holding hands

We must take action to create change

At this moment, as we wait for the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial, I am experiencing grief, sadness and anger over his death and the continued killing, with no prosecution and no apology, to Black men, women and children. Like most of you, I am outraged but encouraged by the powerful movement we see not only in Seattle and Minneapolis but across this country and around the world.

I am encouraged change will come if we do not let up, and we continue to protest, contribute and support organizations such as My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Obama Foundation, Roland Martin Unfiltered, National CARES Mentoring Movement, Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement, Black Lives Matter Seattle King County, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The National Urban League, or one of the many other African American organizations fighting for order and  justice.

I know the pain so many are feeling as a mother. My son Glenn Page was assaulted by white men at the age of 23; this attack led to his death. It is taking years to fully charge the four white men who were charged with manslaughter.

I hurt for George Floyd’s mother and the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and all the other Black Americans who died at the hands of police. I am in full support of action to convict renegade police officers.

But I am also moved and encouraged by the solidarity of people, young and old of all races, who have come together on the streets coast-to-coast and across the world. Change must come — in policies, changes in leadership and change to the system.

I am with all those who cry for justice and protest injustice in policing, legal system, incarceration, under-resourced schools, lack of quality housing, unequal health care and inequality in employment opportunities.

I join my brothers and sisters in this time of change, and I vow to be part of the action to create this change.

Hazel Cameron, Executive Director, The 4C Coalition