Speaker Speaking Out At Protest: "I Need Us To Tear Down These Walls Of Separation That Have Been Built In This Country For Almost 500 Years"

This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

We do not know this person’s name. If this is you and you want to be identified, please let us know and we will add your name.

BEGIN

Hello Beacon! Hey Beacon!

First of all, I want to give honor to my ancestors, for walking with us today. Yes.

“My white brothers and sisters, and yes, I’m using the words “brothers and sisters.” The reason why is because I need us to tear down these walls of separation that have been built in this country for almost 500 years that causes you to look at me as “less than.” That causes me to look at you and be afraid. ”

Secondly, I want to thank you for all for coming out and standing for this cause. This is something that is near and dear to my heart. Not just because I’m a Black woman in America, not just because I’m a Black mother in America, but for four of my five children you see standing right here today.

And thank you to my sister who just spoke, thank you for sharing some - you said it so eloquently, so beautifully. But I want to say something else, too. My white brothers and sisters, and yes, I’m using the words “brothers and sisters.” The reason why is because I need us to tear down these walls of separation that have been built in this country for almost 500 years that causes you to look at me as “less than.” That causes me to look at you and be afraid.

Because believe it or not, as a black woman in this country, when I walk down the street, I see a group of white people, sorry, but I feel scared. You know why I’m scared? Because I know that SOME, not ALL, SOME white people don’t see me as the human being, as the beautiful person I am. It doesn’t matter how many degrees I have, it doesn’t matter how many businesses I’ve started, it doesn’t matter how many people I have helped, it doesn’t matter the character and the depth of my heart and my soul. Some people literally cannot get past this skin suit that I am wearing. And their head is filed with biases that have been passed down, taught and caught. Right? Because we have biases that are caught by people.

“Posting up black squares on Instagram and Facebook? Okay, that’s cute. That’s good, that’s cute. That’s cute. But have you addressed your family members that make racist jokes? You might have the uncomfortable laughter but do you address them? Do you tell them “Not on my watch?””

Your parents may not tell you, “Oh, she’s Black, she’s less than.” “He’s Black. Be scared of him.” But their actions show it, and we catch it. And Imma challenge you today, my brothers and my sisters, to let go of any of those biases that you may have caught. And don’t be afraid to admit it! It’s absolutely okay, because you grew up in this country, to hold up a mirror, and I mean that hypothetically speaking, to hold up a mirror, and to get uncomfortable, and to inconvenience yourself and say “You know what? I have privilege.”

And you know why it’s okay to say that? Because once you address and uncover and acknowledge what is really there? That’s the only time you can change it. And your having privilege doesn’t make you less than of a human being, right? Your privilege doesn’t make you less than. What is the issue, is when you have that privilege and you’re so comfortable in it, that you’re fine with superficial signs of support rather than taking the action.

Posting up black squares on Instagram and Facebook? Okay, that’s cute. That’s good, that’s cute. That’s cute. But have you addressed your family members that make racist jokes? You might have the uncomfortable laughter but do you address them? Do you tell them “Not on my watch?” Do you tell them it’s not funny? Do you educate them on the true history of this country?

And if you have not done that, this is the time to start, now. And it’s not just about you holding a sign “it stops with the cops.” Right? That’s only concerning police brutality. But it also stops in your homes. It stops in the schools. Because a racist is a racist no matter what uniform they’re wearing.

So I wanna leave you with this, because yes, Black lives matter. And I had some conversations this week. They don’t like to hear “Black Lives Matter.” They wanna say all lives matter. But if all lives matter, then it shouldn’t be a problem with you saying what?

(Crowd: BLACK LIVES MATTER!)

“I don’t wanna be scared when my children are 16, 17, 18. And I don’t have the joy that you might share in buying my children their first car because I’m scared they’re not gonna come home. Not from car accidents. I’m scared they’re not gonna come home cause someone won’t see them as a human being driving a vehicle.”

Exactly. So I just wanna challenge everyone here, again, if you don’t look like me, thank you for your love, thank you for your support. But I wanna let you know, how you can support us is by getting uncomfortable, inconveniencing yourself, taking the lid off the white washed Eurocentric history that’s taught in this country and get to the truth. Because the truth, indeed, will not only set you free. The truth, indeed, I’m sorry, it makes me angry, but with that anger comes action, with action, comes change. (applause)

I don’t wanna be scared when my children are 16, 17, 18. And I don’t have the joy that you might share in buying my children their first car because I’m scared they’re not gonna come home. Not from car accidents. I’m scared they’re not gonna come home cause someone won’t see them as a human being driving a vehicle. So that’s the change that I’m looking for. It starts in our schools. It starts in our homes. It starts with your neighbors. It starts with your family. So stand up, stand tall, get uncomfortable, get inconvenienced, but again, anger from the truth brings action, and action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!).

Action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!)

Action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!)

Don’t let it stop here, y’all.

Speaker Speaking Out During Black Lives Matter Protest: "I Want To Speak Towards The Feeling Of Not Looking Us In The Eye"

The speaker of Story #1. If this is you, and you want to identify yourself here, please let us know and we will add your name.

This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

We do not know this person’s name. If this is you and you want to be identified, please let us know and we will add your name.

BEGIN
Story #1

(story had started…this is when our video footage started…we do not have the beginning of the story)

If I go down, we both go down.

(Applause)

And I just want that to be heard here in my home town. Because I know that we are a beautiful and diverse community here. And I know when I walk down these streets I could look people in the eye and that is a privilege I have here, in this town, in Beacon. And it’s not a privilege that many other towns, not even in the Hudson Valley, get to share. And I know this only because I’ve lived in other places in the Hudson valley. I’ve lived in Poughkeepsie. I’ve lived in Newburgh. I now live in Ulster County, and it’s not the same, y’all. It is not.

And I just also…I want to speak towards the traumatization that we feel right now in this moment, the universal feelings that we’re all struggling with. And those feelings are really important to try to understand why. Even as a colored person, or Black person, or an indigenous person, or a white person. Why do I feel…”answer the blank.” Why do I feel sad? Why do I feel ashamed? Why do I feel guilt? Why do I feel anger? And we need to find a better way to challenge those feelings to talk to one another. Because I also realize that even as a brown person, I’m fucking angry. But that does not give me the right to scream at somebody else who’s trying to be a part of this movement who might not share my skin.

I also lastly want to speak to white people. I’m in an interracial relationship. I know how tough it is. I know it’s tough when you don’t know what to do. I’ve heard it. I know it’s tough when you didn’t put those thoughts in (her/your) head. I know it’s tough walking into someplace unfamiliar and you have no idea what you’re doing. But you go towards it because you know it’s probably the right thing, because it’s what your friends told you to do and you just want to show up.

“You do not look at the faces of our beautiful black men and women. You do not recognize them as a whole society. So when you’re walking down the street, instead of thinking, “let me avoid this person’s face,” why not humanize them? Look them in the eye. You’ll realize that sometimes you might get a smile. Sometimes you might get a “hey, hello.” ”

But I want to speak towards the feeling of not looking us in the eye, because even in the Hudson Valley, New York City, wherever you go - I’ve experienced this a lot in Poughkeepsie and Newburgh. You do NOT look at the faces of our beautiful black men and women. You do not recognize them as a whole society. So when you’re walking down the street, instead of thinking, “let me avoid this person’s face,” why not humanize them? Look them in the eye. You’ll realize that sometimes you might get a smile. Sometimes you might get a “hey, hello.”

Black people are not criminals. So stop avoiding their faces, their emotions, their eyes when they walk past you. They’re not there to jump you, to be a criminal towards you, to harass you. None of that. I’m not taking that no more.

A Protest, Happening This Weekend, And The Retail Therapy Guide - 6/5/2020

That's right folks...An old phrase has been added to our subject line: "Happening" Because things are Happening! This week was a big week. And it's not over yet. Last Saturday: A gentle protest was held in Beacon by Southern Dutchess Resist. Details > Monday: A large peaceful protest was organized by these young people: Xavier Mayo, Ciarda Hall, and Stefon Seward was held in Beacon. Police provided an escort by way of moving street closure for protection, and two of Beacon's highest ranking police officers were granted permission to join. A Little Beacon Blog was there and covered it. See this article to get a feel for the experience, watch 2 videos of chanting in the beginning, and 1 video of the entire march, from inside the march. This article includes responses from the Chief of Police Kevin Junjulas and Mayor Kyriacou to A Little Beacon Blog's questions. Get The Story > Tuesday: Tuesday turned into Blackout Tuesday. With many white people learning and unlearning themselves, and black people asking white people to speak, there was a lot of words and social media flying around. This became a day of silence and reflection. A Little Beacon Blog was honored to get a call by Terry Nelson, Beacon's City Councilmember for Ward 1. He was at the march, and we reached out to fact check his daughter's name for an article. We came away with an incredible interview with Terry's experience when a member of the NYPD  putting a gun to his face when he was 17, and how he lives as a black man in America today. Details > Wednesday: Wednesday turned into a day of heaviness. When the reflection started, and vital sharing continued, many black and brown friends released their personal experiences of growing up black in America, and they were very sad and tired. Tired because they have been living with this for all of their years as a normal part of their lives, and now, some white people, were finally beginning to hear and see it. You may have received business emails from black owned businesses who don't normally talk about race in their marketing material, but on this day, they did. Also on this day, Beacon's Patrolmans Benevolent Association issued a letter in response to George Floyd's killing. Signed by Officer Michael Confield, they referred to the death as an "unconscionable death." Thursday: By now, peaceful protests had happened in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, where both police chiefs (Newburgh's has an Officer In Charge as they are in transition after their chief resigned last month after a riot was sparked after an armed black man was fatally shot by police) kneeled with protestors. Friday: That's today! See below for what's in store... PS: Yes, we have started a comprehensive list of black owned businesses in the Hudson Valley and we wanted to release it to you today, but it's still being formatted and linked up. Absentee Ballots Arrive - Vote Ballot box locations have been posted by the Beacon City School District. You only have until Tuesday, June 9pm at 5pm to get these in, and at their scheduled times. Learn where the ballot boxes are. Details Here > Beacon City School District Virtual Art Show Day: Happening Now Location: Beacon Public Library's website The show must go on! It's time for the Howland Library's annual Beacon City School District Art Show. Every year, students, teachers, and library staff look forward to seeing the colorful and vibrant art of our community's young artist. Starting June 1st, we'll be having a Virtual Exhibit celebrating these talented young people and their hardworking teachers! While we may not be able to see the work in person, we hope you will be able to experience the energy of their creativity through this virtual exhibit.  Information > Postcards From A Pandemic Day: Friday, June 5, 2020 Time: 7pm Location: Instagram Live Garrison Art Center is pleased to announce an ongoing worldwide exhibition of postcard art entitled Postcards From A Pandemic. This exhibition invites artists from near and far to mail a postcard to the Art Center that reflects their thoughts and creative expressions during this troubled time of social distancing and gallery closures due to COVID-19. Information > Black Lives Matter Protest - Pohill Park to Pete + Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park Day: Saturday, June 6, 2020 Time: 2:45pm Location: Pohill Park, Beacon, NY This protest is organized by Ciarda Hall, Stefon Seward and Xavier Mayo (Monday's protest), and is backed by the Southern Dutchess Resist, (organized Saturday's), I Am Beacon, and several other groups in Dutchess County. The Mayor of Beacon as well as other local government officials will be speaking. Story Screen Virtual Night Day: Saturday, June 6, 2020 Time: 7:30-10pm Location: ZOOM Story Screen Trivia returns for yet another series of movie related questions and categories, with your favorite brainy movie nerds: Bernadette Gorman-White and Mike Burdge. And now they're using satellites to ask questions! Information > Virtual Hudson Valley Pride Festival Day: Sunday, June 7, 2020 Time: 4-6pm Location: Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/hvlgbtqcenter/ Join the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center on Facebook Live on Hudson Valley Pride Sunday for amazing performances by local performers Denise Parent, Nia & Ness, Ryan Cassata, and Salem Corwin! Information > The Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) Virtual 5K Run & Walk Days: Now through June 17, 2020 Time: At Your Own Pace Location: Favorite trail, your neighborhood, the park, your treadmill! Complete a 5 Kilometer run and/or walk (5K kilometers = 3.1 miles) in the comfort of your own neighborhood or on a treadmill between May 17th  and June 17th, 2020. You choose the date, the time and location. Registration ends June 10th!  Information > Beacon's Police Chief Will Attend Monday Night City Council Meeting For Conversation (Meeting via Zoom/YouTube) On Monday night, June 8th, the City of Beacon Police Chief, Kevin Junjulas, will join the City Council for a conversation on best practices and training for the Beacon Police Department. If you wish to listen in on conversation, an invitation to the virtual meeting is below. Also please see this link to a video from June 1st of City Councilmembers commenting on the protests https://vimeo.com/425223009 YouTube: You can watch the meeting live on the City's YouTube channel. Zoom: You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Jun 8, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: City Council Workshop Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82201559958?pwd=eHdHNjlNTXM1S0xueWRZYWRESmJyQT09 Password: 027050 Check our Calendar and Events Guide regularly for upcoming events throughout the week!   Visit A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide for updates on who is open, delivering, or has paused for now. INDUSTRIAL ARTS BREWING As we begin Pride Month 2020, this year’s design from Industrial Arts Brewing has added a brown stripe to show their solidarity with POC everywhere. These are now available in their web store and would make a nice addition to your beer order, but no other purchase is necessary. 100% of proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to @rocklandcountypridecenter and @dutchesspride.  Information > EAT CHURCH This weekend special is going to hit the spot: It's the “Mission Style Burrito:” Black beans, yellow rice, queso, avocado, salsa, crema, hots. Old school vegetarian. $10. For those of you who have picky eaters, you will love the Bang Bang Spring Rolls. The easiest eatery to social distance in, as it is surrounded by parking lot, with a straight-on view of Mount Beacon. Order Now > Eat Church is a ALBB Sponsor! BAJA 328 ¡Salud! Baja 328 has made it to the final round of Hudson Valley Magazine's "Best Margarita"! There is still time to get your votes in! Visit this voting page to support your local canteen! Cast Your Vote! > Baja 328 is a ALBB Sponsor!   I AM BEACON To shop local has never been more important as it is today. The beauty of the Beacon community has many wonderful qualities - our small businesses being one of them! It is often said, charity begins at home- the pride of Beacon lies in our dedication and support of one another.  Pick up your I Am Beacon Strong T-shirt at Key Food to be entered in to win a $100 gift card to a local shop! Add this to your collection of other I Am Beacon t-shirts. Information > BINNACLE BOOKS Looking for literature related to Black History and educate yourself further on the issue of civil rights in this county? Binnacle Books has many titles to choose from such as:  - Jabari Asim, “We Can’t Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival” - Ibrahim X. Kendi, “How To Be An Antiracist” - “Chronicles of Black Protest” ed. Bradford Chambers If those concepts are new to you - or you've seen them before but didn't want to engage - engage now. Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you! LUXE OPTIQUE It's getting too hot outside to wear your glasses and exercise at the same time. For those of you who are daily glasses wearers, you may need to open a new box of contacts! Luxe Optique is shipping contacts, and working on a new online ordering system. Deals: Get $25 off all year supplies of contacts + free shipping Get $10 off 6 month supplies + FREE SHIPPING FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL DIRECT SHIP CONTACT LENS ORDERS Your order might also be eligible for a manufactures rebate of up to $150!  Order: Text 845-838-2020 or email at info@luxeoptique.com Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you! PTACEK HOME Your indoor plant collection has been growing, we get it, it's happening in our Managing Editor Marilyn's home as we speak! Look at these beautiful Sustain Planters with heart pine from PTACEK Home. Beautiful. OMG. Shop Now > PTACEK Home is a Sponsor, thank you! COLD FIT CRYOTHERAPY Cold Fit Cryotherapy is thrilled to announce that they will re-open on Wednesday, June 10th! "All NYS requirements for sanitation will be strictly followed!" they say. They look forward to “freezing” with you soon!    View more upcoming classes for in the Adult Classes Guide and Kids Classes Guide. ANTALEK & MOORE Scheduling a Zoom call with Antalek & Moore is a convenient, safe and easy way to talk to any of their agents. Contact your insurance representative or email them at info@antalek-moore.com to schedule your call today. They miss you! And did you see Terry's bike for National Bike Day? Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you! TIN SHINGLE Tin Shingle is a resource and empowerment platform for business owners, artists and makers to get the word out about their business. This is done through webinars (called "TuneUps") to be watched on replay any time; an online safe-space forum to ask questions and get answers and support; and in-person opportunities to bounce ideas off experts in a live video format. Learn More > KATIE JAMES, INC. Couture branding boutique, Katie James, Inc. designed the website for Beacon-based Knot Too Shabby in Shopify last year. Designed with the shop owner in mind, this website features various types of products, including paint, stencils, furniture, and classes. Katie James, Inc. can design your website too, or consult with you as you build it. We got a suggestion in from a reader, who wanted to know how to send A Little Beacon Blog financial support to help us continue to produce. Even just $5. First of all: THANK YOU to that reader for wanting to do this! Support Here > People Who Have Given Reading your comments of what ALBB means to your life has been humbling and keeps us going. Thank you. See Who Supported >

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Interview With Terry Nelson, City Councilperson Ward 1, About His Police Experience And Emotions During Protests

Terry Nelson and his daughter marching in the protest in Beacon against police brutality and racial injustice.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Terry Nelson was at the student led protest in Beacon on Monday early with his daughter. She came with a sign, as she wanted to elevate her participation out of her Instagram and into the street with other supporters. Terry came with his mask and his phone to what he later realized was the brightest moment of the past two months of quarantine.

He didn’t care that he wasn’t socially distancing. Later that night at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting, Terry confessed he had “trouble making it through” the meeting, as he choked on his words, took a breath and looked at the ceiling. Earlier that day, he had been chanting “I Can’t Breath” with the protesters, and on this usual Monday night, he shared with his fellow councilpersons and members of the public listening about the time when he was 17 years old, walking in NYC, and had a gun put to his face by a member of the NYPD.

The hearts of black and brown people have been heavy this week (well, quite a bit heavier). The day after Blackout Tuesday, a social media movement to take a pause to go silent and reflect (but not go silent on news impacting black lives), many black and brown friends expressed sadness and extreme tiredness. On the business side of things, many black business owners sent emails to their customers, sharing their personal stories of growing up black in America.

On Blackout Tuesday, Terry called me to tell his story. I had emailed him to confirm that his daughter was in the photo. He responded with a phone call. This is his story of being black in America, in New York City, growing up on West 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam, in a community he loved.

ALBB: Terry, I would ask you how you are, but I was listening to the City Council Meeting last night and heard how you are. But how are you?
”Whenever I see someone - a story where someone gets stopped by the police or killed by the police, it definitely makes me think about my experience. I feel grateful that nothing bad happened, and that I was able to live a pretty decent life for the next 38 years. The last 3.5 years have broken me, because we've allowed racism to be normalized. Even more a part of the system. I'm sad more than angry. They kind of alternate.”

ALBB: I really want to ask you…but I know you recounted your experience at the meeting last night. So I can re-listen and type it up, as I don’t want you to have to recount it. But…
”Katie, I called you. I will share my story. I was 17 years old. I wasn't even driving. I was walking with some friends, hanging out late, down by the Bowery. And I got stopped. Out of nowhere. A member of the NYPD put a gun in my face and I was told that I fit the description of a robbery suspect. When you're in New York, you're used to hearing sirens and police cars. We just didn't think that one of us would be a part of it.”

ALBB: Where did you grow up in NYC?
”I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam. Near Tom’s Diner from Seinfeld.”
Editor’s Note: This area is near Columbia University and is known as Morningside Heights.

ALBB: How was that block?
”It was great. My neighbors never had a problem. The Dominicans lived one one side and the Puerto Ricans lived on another side. We played stick ball across the street together. It was during a different time when you could sit on people’s cars. It was great experience.”

ALBB: The protests all over are so large. It’s hard to social distance. Did you care?
”No. It didn't matter to me because racism is a much more prevalent, more difficult disease to get rid of. I've been basically indoors this whole time. I'll take a walk around the block and come back. It's been that way for the past 12 weeks. Yesterday (Monday) it didn't matter to me.

“My daughter wanted to come with me. She felt like putting up messages on her Instagram and talking to her friends wasn't enough.

“I had my reservations, I've been telling people social distance and put your mask on. There I was, not doing that. What happened yesterday was really important.

“I wanted to show why it was important that I be there. God bless those kids for doing that. It was the best thing that happened since the shut down. Ironically. This is me the atheist saying God Bless.

ALBB: What are things you see now that can bring out a life change?
”When people say All Lives Matter - I want them to know that when someone says Black Lives Matter - it doesn't degrade anyone's life. It is evident that black lives clearly do not matter. In what we have seen in the last 30 years. If you want me to go down a list I can. People who say All Lives Matter are not taking into consideration what we are trying to say. The chances of me being stopped vs a white person and are greater.

”Someone said to me: “That's a myth. My parents were immigrants and they made a better life for themselves.” And that is a clear lack of understanding of our history.

”I would like to see more of my white friends, allies, friends, neighbors, call out racism when they see it. If Uncle John makes a racist remark at the dinner table, you have to stamp it out right away. If you say: "Oh that's just him, it's a different time," that won’t work. That time has passed.”

ALBB: Does the tone matter? When white people are speaking?
”It does matter. I've heard it enough to know when there is malice behind it. I can tell when the other person saying it to me, they have no interest in why that offends me. Even great people that I know don’t understand why that offends me. I don't think you can ever fully explain to a white person what it's like. What it's like to get in your car, and say: "I hope I don't get stopped if I'm on the highway." It's an ongoing dawn to dusk siege that we can never fully explain or tell them about.”

ALBB: Should a white person not try?
”No. I say try by all means. Try! And don't be afraid if you get something wrong. I would rather correct the mistake, than have them compound it. Than making it worse. It cannot be left up to black people to fix this issue. This is an issue that we never started. It has to come from my white friends and my white sisters.”

ALBB: Is your wife white?
”Yes. We have been married 15 years (as a couple, together 17 years). It's been an ongoing learning process. The amazing thing about my wife is that she is very intelligent. This is not finite. You are going to learn something new all of the time. I'm learning something new all of the time about racism.

“Fortunately, early on in our relationship, we were pulled over in the car. One cop talked to me, one cop talked to her. "Where are you going to?" They asked us the same questions to see if we had the same answers. And we did. I've been only pulled over in a car once. Luckily there is a PBA sticker for state troopers in my window that my friend gave me. The trooper asked me "Who do you know?" I told him my friend’s name. It turns out they work in the same unit. He said "Oh, OK. Please slow down next time."

“That's why I make such a concerted effort to have people go the speed limit.”
Editor’s Note: If you follow City Council Meetings, you’ll hear Terry repeatedly ask for people to follow the speed limit.

Editor’s Note: Terry’s wife, Alison Chi, contributed her side of the experience:
“I’d just like to add to Terry's story about us being pulled over together. The only fortunate things about it were that we emerged unharmed and that it was when the first threads of the mask that had blinded me to understanding how my white skin protected me in the world were torn abruptly off. Understanding the impact of racism and what it is like to live in this world as a person of color is a continuous journey which I will never fully complete - because I am not black. My my loved ones are. Fear is an underlying constant. So for them, for the world around us, I will always point out racism when I see it. And will always talk to anyone about it - it's what I can do.”

Terry continues:
”This experience has changed me. And how I approach things. I will have to be more blunt with people. And not be so concerned about not seeming like a nice person. I think the time has come for honest talk across the board from everyone.”

Monday March In Beacon Against Police Brutality & Racism - Video, Photos and March Experience

Word about this march floated through Instastories, passed from friend to friend, that a march down Main Street was planned in Beacon to speak and chant and kneel against police brutality and racism. One mom heard about it from her teenager. Organized by a student who is black and wanted to not use his name in the initial organizing, citing fear of being targeted as others have in other cities. Lineup was at 2:45pm at Chase Bank, and by 2:30pm, dozens of students - black and brown and white - young and old and with canes and knee braces - were walking down Main Street towards the mountain to start at the beginning - the parking lot of Chase Bank - before marching down Main Street.

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White youths who carry tennis racquets in backpacks. Maybe there’s a round-robin after the march? After the march, as people gathered at Pohill Park, the speakers conjured Martin Luther King in their inspiration.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

One white youth carried 3 tennis racquets in his back pack, while his 2 friends each carried at least one racquet while another eagerly passed out water bottles. When offered the water bottles, several march participants declined. Water bottles have come to be symbolic as they are hurdled at police cars in other cities across the country. There was no police presence around Chase during the warm-up of the crowd as more and more people gathered. People held signs and left the drive-way open at Chase for bank customers to drive out after doing transactions at the window.

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One protestor’s sign asks: “Beacon Police: How are you speaking out?”
This photo taken while marchers were chanting: “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

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Participants kneeling for George Floyd against police brutality.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Before the march began, two students rallied the crowd. In the crowd was one of Beacon’s City Council members Terry Nelson of Ward 1, who attended with his daughter (see ALBB’s full interview with Terry here). One student who is brown circled around in the group, breathing phrases into everyone’s lungs, as he encouraged people to shout: “I Can’t Breath,” “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and “Say My Name: George Floyd.” Everyone put their hands up as they shouted “Don’t Shoot.” At other times, the march leader told everyone to take a knee against police brutality, which they did. A young woman with caramel skin got up on his shoulders and thanked the people for coming, getting choked up as she looked at the variety of faces who were there to show support. “This means everything right now. Everything. To see all of you out here. Every skin color…This is real and it’s happening everywhere!” After the march, she encouraged participants to educate their white friends.

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One of the organizers, thanking the participants for showing up, and stressing the importance of why they were there.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

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Signs read: “Skin color is not reasonable suspicion,” and “No Justice No Peace Black Lives Matter”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The march began down Main Street, headed away from the mountain and to the Hudson River and Pohill Park, the traditional meeting spot for rallies, protests, and celebrations. Shortly after the people began marching in a sea of signs, a police presence appeared up ahead. At least 3 police cars spaced themselves out in front of march in a moving street closure, where they drive with the marchers by escorting in front. Today it was providing protection for the marchers, who by now had grown to a quarter mile long. Main Street is one mile long.

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Beacon Police created a moving street closure for the march. The street closure lasted until Wolcott Avenue, where traffic was stopped both ways to create a safe space on Wolcott for when the crowd arrived at Pohill Park.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

After The March, The Speeches

The people filed in at Pohill Park, with the overflow people people going up South Avenue and Main Street. Police blocked off Wolcott Avenue from Rombout Avenue to West Main Street (the street that takes you to the train). Police officers were gathered in the middle of that intersection, with one directing traffic and the others discussing among themselves. A few people from the march approached the group of officers to say: “Join us!” The officers discussed, and later, after two speeches by the organizers, one officer, whose face many regular attendees would recognize from City Council Meetings as he weighs in on questions about enforcement regulations, emerged from crowd.

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During the speeches, the two organizers continued to lead the attendees in chanting, while still more new people joined the group. One grandmother standing on the sidewalk nodded her head. Ali T. Muhammad spoke after the student organizers spoke. Ali is a former Beacon City Council person for Ward 4, and ran for Mayor of Newburgh last year. He pushed for the next steps and asked the rhetorical question of why everyone had gathered and participated, emphasizing that after all this, things must change. He implored people to register to vote, and to show up to vote.

A third speaker described his experience with the police. He described how dangerous it is for him to raise his hands from the steering wheel, reminding the crowd of black people who get shot during traffic stops. “Don’t reach for the keys, don’t reach for anything, except your phone. Turn it on. Turn on your camera, or go live on your Instagram.” His message was of driving in fear - constant fear of being pulled over and how that can end in death.

If you are a white person reading that sentence, and if you think it is exaggerated, simply recall your own story of being pulled over. Think about how it might have funny moments. How you sweated it out while digging through your glove compartment, trying to find your insurance card. Then ask your black or brown or South American friends about their experiences being pulled over, and you will hear very different stories. Stories of them sweating it out as they insist to an officer that they don’t have drugs in the car, as they drive home from a babysitting job and had a break light out.

Beacon’s Chief of Police Responds To ALBB’s Questions About Protest

A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Beacon’s Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, to hear his reaction to the march. Chief Junjulas was formerly Captain in Beacon, and was promoted to Chief after Beacon’s at the time current Chief, Doug Solomon, had left the Beacon Police force. At that time, according to then Mayor Randy Casale during a City Council meeting, Mayor Casale heard about the departure from a radio report.

Solomon left to join the Newburgh Police Department, a department he had served on prior. He was also Mayor of Monticello, until he resigned from that as well in May 2018 in order to be Newburgh’s Police Chief. On March 27th, 2020, in Newburgh, a fatal shooting of a black man happened, and riots broke out. Organizers of that are unknown. Solomon went on leave shortly after that. In May 2020, Solomon resigned.

After his resignation, Newburgh has an Officer in Charge, Lt. Kevin Lahar. On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Newburgh held a peaceful protest against police brutality and racism. Officer in Charge Lt. Kevin Lahar took a knee with protesters, shook hands and hugged a protester.

Back to Beacon’s current Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, who was promoted into the position with high aclaim by then Mayor Casale, and has been involved with community events when they are organized in order to contribute dialogue. Here are Chief Junjulas’ answers to ALBB’s questions:

ALBB: Was the Beacon Police Department alerted to the march in advance?
”We were aware of the event and were monitoring social media to anticipate crowd size and to try to identify an organizer. We were able to identify the organizer and had conversation with him prior to the event in order to coordinate how best to facilitate a safe protest for all involved.”

ALBB: Some people from the march asked the officers at the intersection at the end of the march who were directing traffic form Main Street to join them. Did any Beacon Police officers join the protesters?
”Obviously patrol officers assigned to the detail are tasked with certain duties to assure the safety of the protestors and the public, it would not have been feasible or appropriate for them to join in. I assigned Lt Figlia and Lt Frost to the detail as the highest ranking detail supervisors.

ALBB: Do you have a statement about the march? About why the people feel the need to have one? And how that makes you feel as the leader of the police force? At today’s march, there were black and white students as well as black and white grandparents and parents with strollers.
”Like all reasonable people, we are outraged by the actions of the officers in the killing of George Floyd and strongly condemn their actions. We also support the first amendment and the right to peacefully protest.”

Beacon’s City Council Responds To Police Brutality and Racial Injustice

“Every time I hear about another black person getting stopped or killed by the police, it’s a trigger for me. It is taking every ounce of courage for me to get through this meeting, and get through this week.”

— Terry Nelson, Beacon City Council Member, Ward 1

Every Monday night, Beacon’s City Council holds a meeting. During the Reports section of tonight’s meeting, when the City Council members bring anything on their minds to the table, council people delivered. On this night, several council members gave comment. Mayor Kyriacou, who was on a scheduled trip on the day, said: “I can speak for the entire council and city when I say that we are shocked at the precipitating death of Mr. Floyd, and fully supportive of peaceful protest. I thank the community for speaking up in the non-violent tradition of Gandhi, King and Mandela, and the Police Chief and department for honoring and protecting our community.“

Dan Aymar-Blair estimated that 450 people attended the march. He thanked the protesters for “putting themselves out there.” Amber Grant encouraged people to register for an upcoming climate event, and then fell into an emotional grip as she acknowledged the pain of everyone now, and proceeded to have trouble speaking. Amber proposed to explore what Beacon can do at the municipal level.

Air Rhodes stood “in solidarity” and shared anger and encouraged people to reach out with what they need help with. Jodi McCredo said she stands with the protestors and would never want to tell someone how to protest, but encouraged social distancing, and to be aware of dissenters and to tell the difference between a protester and someone else,

Terry Nelson, who walked this march, calling it the one bright spot in his month, also had trouble finding his voice as he told the viewers and his fellow council members of the time when he was younger, he was walking at night in NYC with his friends when he was 17 years old, and was “stopped by a member of the NYPD and I had a gun in my face and I was told that I fit the description of a robbery suspect.” He said he is a 55 year old man now, and 38 years later, it resonates with him. “Every time I hear about another black person getting stopped or killed by the police, it’s a trigger for me. It is taking every ounce of courage for me to get through this meeting, and get through this week…We really need allies to be on our side right now. We need each other. We cannot do this alone.”

See A Little Beacon Blog’s interview with Terry here: “Interview With Terry Nelson, City Councilperson Ward 1, About His Police Experience And Emotions During Protests”

EDITORIAL NOTE: A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to Beacon’s Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, and Mayor Lee Kyriacou for comment for this article. Replies come in, and this article was updated.

Justice For George Floyd March Against Racist State Violence Happened In Beacon On Saturday

Photo Credit: Video screenshot, A Little Beacon Blog

The march began at Pohill Park in Beacon on Main Street at about 3pm, which is across the street from Town Hall and the Police Department, and is the location for most marches and parades. The march was organized by Southern Dutchess Resist!, and mirrored a march in New Paltz also scheduled for Saturday. The march was designed to go from the far west end of Main Street to Rite-Aid, and marchers were directed to turn around at the traffic light.

Marchers walked peacefully and enthusiastically with each other, wearing face masks and carrying signs that read (this is a sampling):

• “Justice For George”

• “Stop Killer Cops”

• “Racism Is Deadly”

• “It Stops With Cops: Good Cops Don’t Let Bad Cops Kill Defenseless Citizens”

Signs encouraged cars to honk in support, which several did. In this video, a line of cars are stopped at a red traffic light while honking, When the light changed to green, the cars proceed.

The message of the march, according to its Facebook page, is: “We are marching in solidarity with those demanding Justice for George Floyd who was executed by racist police in Minneapolis this past week. We are marching for justice in his case and for all colonized people suffering at the hands of the white supremacist occupation in the United States and across the globe. We are marching for justice, against police brutality and against racism and state violence.“

Immunocompromised people were encouraged not to attend, but to participate from home in other ways.

This march happened on a day when protests, which have been happening in Minneapolis for 6 days so far, have spread to other cities across the United States. Some protests have lead cities to impose curfews, including LA, Denver, Columbus, Cincinnati Minneapolis, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and others. The National Guard has been activated or requested by Minnesota, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Denver and Kentucky (CNN).

The officer who killed George Floyd has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. His bail has been set at $500,000, according to this CNN article.

The other officers who also kneeled on Mr. Floyd have not been charged. While the police report says that he resisted arrested, camera footage of the incident does not show that, according to the CNN article. CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta contributed this thought: “An officer should have started CPR after one of them told the others he couldn't find a pulse.”

The final message on the organizer’s page for Saturday’s march in Beacon was: “--BE SAFE, BE WELL, BE DECENT of course.”

For those looking to get involved with an activism group, there is the Beacon Activist Collective, which “is a collaborative group formed on the strength of the community concern of citizens of Beacon, around the potential erosion of civil rights, social and environmental justice occurring after the election of” this current president.

Anti-War With Iran Demonstration Planned In Beacon For Thursday Evening Jan. 9, 2020

According to a press release sent by Air Nonken Rhodes, a new City Council Member representing Ward 2, grassroots activists plan to gather at Polhill Park (corner of Main Street and Route 9D) at 5 pm on Thursday, January 9, to make visible a “No War” message as part of a national day of grassroots action in opposition to escalation of war with Iran.

The nationwide actions are being organized by a coalition of groups including About Face: Veterans Against the War, Indivisible, MoveOn, the National Iranian American Council, and Win Without War. The day of action hub page, where people can sign up to host or join actions, and where the public will be able to see a nationwide map of planned actions, is www.nowarwithiran.org.

The protest will take the form of visual elements such as anti-war signs and a bucket-drumming brigade.

WHO: “People who live in the Beacon area who are concerned about Trump’s apparent rush to war with Iran,” according to the press release.
WHAT: ‘No War’ grassroots visibility action
WHEN: 5 pm, Thursday, January 9, likely through ~6:30 pm
WHERE: Polhill Park (corner of Main Street and Route 9D, near the Visitors Center, adjacent to Bank Square Coffee House)
VISUALS: Neighbors holding colorful anti-war signs
HASHTAG: #NoWarWithIran

200 Beaconites Protest Justice Department Shuffle of Jeff Sessions' Replacement, Matthew Whitaker

Yesterday we reported that people were gathering at Polhill Park in Beacon to protest the appointment of Matthew Whitaker to temporarily replace Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, after Sessions submitted his resignation letter (as requested by the president, according to the first sentence in the letter Jeff Sessions submitted). A participant sent in an estimate of 200 people in attendance at Beacon’s protest, one of 900 that happened across the country.

As a bring-you-up-to-speed if you need it, Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation which is a look by federal authorities into if and how Russia influenced the 2016 election, and if the current president played a part in that in any way. Sessions has continued to do work that the president has directed him to do, but the president has openly resented Sessions for his recusal. Matthew Whitaker was the Chief of Staff under Sessions, and has vocalized wanting to end the Russia investigation. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has been protective of continuing the Russia investigation.

From a participant, Air Nonken Rhodes, we have a description of Beacon’s event, and pictures that Air took. In Air’s words:

About 200 people in total were there at the time of its largest crowd (5:30 pm), and about 80 people were there most of the rest of the time from 5 to 6:30 pm. Kids, grandparents, commuters coming off the train, people with their dogs, everyone showed up with signs and spirit to stand up against what we see as a power grab.

Conversations included how scary it is to see the checks and balances in our democracy unravel. The mood was generally light, with lots of hooting and hollering with joy whenever a car would honk in support. The commuter traffic going by was generally supportive of our signs.

A small minority shook their heads or gave thumbs-down, a dozen or so going out of their way to roll down their window in the cold air to shout curse-riddled invectives and diatribes against the protestors. A few were stunningly hateful, and took some careful explaining for the kids present. It was deeply sad to see this Trumpish incivility on our own Main Street.

One kid standing next to me asked, “Are we allowed to be here? Are we allowed to do this?” (meaning protest) and her mother explained proudly, “Yes, as Americans we have the free right of peaceable assembly and the right of free speech. We are allowed to be here and do this, and it’s very important to do so whenever something goes wrong. The President doesn’t think the rules apply to him, and we have to remind him that they do.”

Photo Credit for All Photos: Air Nonken Rhodes