#BlackOutNYC and How It Taught Me To Do

August 15, 2015 was a big day for revolutionaries nationally and internationally, as a blackout hashtag and  action was collectively coordinated. From Tampa, FL to Detroit, MI even to London, UK people came out and showed up to raise their voices about police brutality against black people in America. People brought signs, heavy hearts and loud voices as they had in mind Mike Brown, Sandra Bland and many others who have fallen by the hands of police. I googled "black deaths by police 2015" and the KilledByThePolice website reports that to this day 741 black lives have been ended by the police just this year alone.

This is a gross and disbelieving number.

Something had to be done about all this. We needed to respond. So #BlackOut was created.

It is amazing how social media can be used to connect folks. It truly enhances organizing. I just so happened to scroll down my timeline that Saturday morning with no intent on leaving my room, and then I fortunately saw that Tampa was holding an action (gotta give props to my Florida organizers; they 'bout it). I asked what's happening in New York and got linked up with a few bold and conscious individuals that wanted to make sure New York aided in this national action.

We marched from Times Square to Central Park. There were about 15 people who marches the entire path but at least 30 people joined the march collectively. With a small march there was still such people power! It felt good to positively channel energy out that had me riled up for months. The immense amount of police brutality took a toll on me emotionally and it was hard to stay centered. But that march reminded me that this isn't a fight and a struggle I go through alone. One person particularly that encouraged me was James Magee. He made sure NYC took a part of this action and gathered the few of us together that afternoon. So I decided to do an impromptu interview of him! Pardon our mess-ups as this wasn't planned, but I just had to shed some light on James taking the courage to take a stand in New York.

 

there's so many people in James' position: they see the corruption and lack of injustice; they know they want to do something but they're not sure what or how. The difference between those many young folks and James though is that he moved when he got that fear and anger in him. He gathered some friends and used social media to gather others to create an action that made a difference from
Times Square to Central Park.

So I encourage any young revolutionaries to do. Whatever it is that allows your voice to be heard, do it. Even I have ideas for actions and I hesitate. I worry about show out and acknowledgement when I really won't know until I try. I'm excited to see what James will do in the movement onward and I hope you all find your way to contribute to the freedom side.

Connect with James via Twitter: @OmonaKami