Black Lives Matter march in Bermuda. Photo courtesy Bernews.
HAMILTON, Bermuda--About 7,000 people took part in a march in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Sunday.
Protesters created a sea of people through Hamilton, with chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “I can’t breathe” helping to form a powerful atmosphere with no sign of tension.
Placards could be seen on all sides of the street, with many flags, signs and shirts carrying the Black Lives Matter slogan and messages such as “The real virus is racism”, “We will not be silenced” and “Racism is a pandemic”.
Jasmine Brangman, of the group Black Lives Bermuda, urged demonstrators to “demand change” as she spoke at an opening ceremony before the march began at about 12:45pm.
They paused outside Hamilton Police Station, where the chant changed from “I can’t breathe” – a reference to the words spoken by black man George Floyd as he died at the hands of police in Minnesota last week – to “We can’t breathe”.
Mwalimu Melodye Micere Van Putten, a Bermudian who has been a long-term activist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who also spoke before the march, told The Royal Gazette: “This is the place in which the entire world can look at themselves and white people particularly and understand there can’t be any peace without justice.
“People need to understand the simmering anger that lies below the surface and that Bermuda is not another world. This attitude is global and it has to change.”
The demonstration was arranged in the wake of Floyd’s death and mirrors numerous protests that have involved thousands of people around the world.
One demonstrator said: “I’m here in solidarity with the people in the US and the world. We are here for the Black Lives Matter campaign.
“I wasn’t able to watch the video of George Floyd. It definitely brought it home. A lot of the time we hear about this, but this made it real. I think that could have been me, my son, my brother or my family.”
Kevin Santucci, the chaplain of the City of Hamilton, said: “We can’t help but feel with our neighbours from America, the solidarity and desire for change.”
Santucci said of the Floyd killing: “In my gut I was torn apart. I could not eat. I had to bring myself back to grip. That’s what brings me to stand here today.
“I believe it speaks for itself. We have Bermudians and foreigners here with us and they all want to see a better way.”
Brangman said on Facebook that the march would go ahead despite heavy rain.
She said: “Yes ! We are still marching today.
“Do you think a racist stops being a racist just cause it’s raining?! #BlackLivesMatter.”
Brangman had said earlier that the protest was set up “for the community to express themselves on systematic racism and other issues that are affected by racism and inequality in Bermuda.” ~ The Royal Gazette ~
