Caroline Vincent, News Editor
@cvincentcourant
Late Thursday afternoon, the streets of New Canaan were filled with chants: “White silence is violence. No justice, no peace. Say his name; George Floyd. Say her name; Breonna Taylor.”
Organized by the Niang family, the town of New Canaan came together in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and justice for the death of George Floyd, which has incentivized protests and riots across America.
Over 1,000 people peacefully marched from Saxe Middle School down South Avenue to the police station, where speeches were given.
A high school senior, Ethan Niang, gave a speech where he advised his peers on what actions to take to further support the Black community: “Educate yourself, whether it be through research or through civil informative discussion with minorities around you. We will be willing to help you understand. Change the way you see us. We are not a threat. We are not coming to rob you or take your jobs. We just want to be seen as equal, fellow Americans. When you get home, don’t let this be your good deed for the year. You don’t have to keep marching with us, but continue to spread awareness, continue to have difficult conversations. It’s the only way we can move past this.”
Surrounded by his colleagues, the Reverend Elizabeth Garnsey and the Reverend Justin Crisp, Reverend Peter Walsh of St. Marks’ Episcopal Church led the crowd in the prayer “Through the Whole Human Family.”
There was no plan for Father Peter to speak at the march, but when clergy was asked to come forward, he was delighted to be given the opportunity to speak. Once finishing the prayer, Father Peter did not have a speech prepared. “The words that I spoke were just the words that were on my heart, therefore were on my tongue,” Father Peter said.
The great movements of spirit brought by the march, especially by young people, inspired Father Peter. “The energy of the young people in our communities is very important because it is flushed with an idealism that is necessary to push the whole community forward, not to comprise, and to hold the standards high, so that a better and more just society can be crafted,” he said.
Other speeches were given by Fatou Niang, Sky Davidson, the Reverend Eric Dupee of the Congregational Church of New Canaan, and Police Chief Leon Krolikowski.
The crowd was filled with people of all ages, including young children holding the hands of their mothers and senior residents cheering on protesters from their driveways. Among the crowd was high school class of 2019 graduate Kate Reeves.
Kate came to the march to show solidarity with the Black community and take action. But, Kate does not plan to stop advocating for the Black community after the march. “We all have to go home, donate, and make sure we dismantle a system that is designed to discriminate against Black Americans,” Kate said. “That may begin by going to a march, but it doesn’t end there.”
For those who are unsure of how to use their voices and act to end systemic racism in America, Kate said the first step is to listen to others. “You need to start by listening, not by staying in your own echo chamber,” Kate said. “By just listening to other voices without getting defensive and understanding why riots are going on and why there are centuries of oppression that have built up such immense anger.”
The march held in New Canaan is one of many held across America, fueling the national plea to end racial-based injustice and police brutality. Kate urged others to use their voice and speak up.“What matters is that you are doing something and that you are doing as much as you can do,” Kate said.
Father Peter said one of the primary ways to bring about change is to work through the political system: “How we vote, how we tell our representatives what we want to do. For there to be systemic change, it has to be embedded in our laws and our government policies,” Father Peter said.
