Voices of the Movement, Best Dad Media

Voices of the Movement

In the first couple of months of the protest, I had an idea for a project. I wanted to interview AS MANY protestors as possible and just ask them one simple question, “WHY are YOU out here protesting?”

I believe that sometimes, the most powerful thing in the world is just looking another human in the eye and hearing their WHY.

So here’s the project. 50 short videos. 50 WHYs.

I hope these are impactful to you in some way.

“I’m tired of injustice, and I’m tired of police brutality… the fight is far from over”

C Tez has been an instrumental force within the movement since day one.

Not long after Kenneth Walker’s police call was released to the public, the whole world had eyes on Louisville, Ky. A large number of angry citizens had gathered in downtown and the number was growing by the second. Eyes were on Louisville, and that number was growing because C Tez was on Facebook live and thousands of people were tuned in.

Over the next few days, C Tez would continue to go live, inspire the crowds of people, and lead them. And by the next few days, I really mean he didn’t stop or take a day off for well over 150+ days.

“It coulda been me, it coulda been anybody… I’m blessed to still be here. Like I said, it coulda been anybody, so I feel like I need to be here.“

Another day 1. Bruce has pretty much given his life over to this movement. From the first day of protesting til today, I think the only time you couldn’t find Bruce protesting down at Breewayy were the days he was locked up for protesting.

Not only is Bruce dedicated but he is also an encourager… building up others, helping and looking out for others., and always bragging on others!

“My personal why is, to see justice for Breonna Taylor… I’m down here because I wanna see Breonna get justice. No justice, no peace!”

For the first few months of the Breonna Taylor protests in Louisville, there wasn’t a single day that I don’t remember seeing Ms. Ana passing out food with the Kentucky Alliance. Every. Single. Day.

She never asked for anything in return, never complained or badmouthed, she just showed up every day and served her community the best way she knew how. I wish we could all be more like Ms. Ana.

“I feel like we should never be in a position to where we have to beg someone to treat us equally or give us rights that other people have that we don’t.”

As soon as the Breonna Taylor Protests and movement started in Louisville, Chris saw a need and got right to work. See, in the first few months Breewayy was more than just a spot for protesting, it became a community (until it was vandalized and destroyed by LMPD).

Literally, for a couple of months, there were folks that occupied the park 24/7, even sleeping in tents. Chris and his group FIRM were some of those that stayed at the park and provided structure, security, supplies, and so much more to the movement.

“Found this bucket one day and had some sticks in the car, just decided to get it in… tryna bring a little bit of positive energy down here.”

In the very first days, the sounds of the Louisville protests were filled with mostly yelling, helicopters, flashbangs, and rubber bullets hitting the ground.

But the longer we held our ground and the more of a community we became the sounds became more harmonious. Sounds of chanting, music, and laughter… and then there was the sound of Marsallis, his drumsticks, and 5-gallon bucket.

ALWAYS a smile on his face, ALWAYS willing to start playing at a moment’s notice if that’s what the moment calls for. The one-man band of BREEWAYY! Marsallis has played those drums at the front of historic and revolutionary marches, during times of worship at the square, and he has even been in a couple of music videos.

“Breonna Taylor was someone’s student once and she’s a person too, just like my students are. So that brings me out here and really inspires me to take action.”

Zack is a teacher from New York, who joined us in multiple protests throughout the summer.

“it’s a good reason for everyone to come together… and we enjoy everybody being here but it’s a lot of people turning against a lot of people and we’re not here for that kinda reason.”

If you ever saw Jendaa protesting down at the square, you were guaranteed to notice at least one thing… her baby bump!! Jendaa was our protesting baby mama, and everyone made sure to keep her and that baby safe at all costs.

As risky as it was for Jendaa to be out there, she understood that and it was that important to her. Not only to be able to fight for what she believes in but also to fight for a better world for her child to grow up in.

Also, Breewayy’s little baby was a handsome boy and he and momma are great!

“I’m not only fighting for Breonna Taylor. I’m not only fighting for David McAtee. I’m fighting for myself. I’m fighting for anyone who ever experienced police brutality. That’s why I’m out here.”

Another Breewayy original. There were times I would show up to the park and there would be hundreds of protestors and there were some mornings I would pull up and there would only be a couple… Tripp was always in that number.

I have witnessed Tripp put his body on the line numerous times to protect others. I have also witnessed Tripp stand face to face with riot lines and not flinch. He has been wrongfully arrested and assaulted at the hands of LMPD on multiple occasions and the next day he was right back out there.

“I’m gonna keep my foot on the necks of every system that keeps people oppressed, cause we gonna get free… Breonna was our boomerang and since we woke, we can’t go back to sleep.”

Stachelle has been dubbed Breewayy’s Pastor!! She has given speeches to weary crowds that I truly believe will go down in history. But it didn’t start there…

Stachelle has been in these streets and serving this community, go check out what the Hope Bus has done and is doing! But then when the protest happened, she didn’t grab a megaphone or a microphone, she got her hands dirty. She was on the grill, she was passing out snacks and water, she was boots on the ground marching. She was LOVING HER PEOPLE!

But boyyyyyy…. when she did pick up that microphone, WOW!!!! REVOLUTIONARY! She speaks power, she speaks hope, she speaks truth and she speaks LOVE.

or in her words, “It’s the L’s for me.

Liberation. Love. Louisville.”

“it starts with taking care of each other and takin care of each other starts with standing up for people who are being stepped on.”

“as of the last year or so, I’ve found my call into activism for sure. Where as, before hand I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. Now, I know very much.”

Like a lot of others, Danny is someone who has sort of found his calling or his place within the movement. Over the past year, I have witnessed Danny use his voice and platform to constantly elevate Black voices and speak against white supremacy and hate as well as do just about anything else asked of him.

“I’m out here for me, ya know, my brothers, my kids… my cousins, my uncles, whomever. We all matter… and if we don’t do it, who’s gonna be out here?”

Another day one, and another young man who has begun to find his way during the movement. I have a lot of admiration for Issa and have loved getting to know him over the last year.

“I am a participator in the movement, one of the quote, unquote leaders of the movement, one of the frontliners of the movement, one of the peacemakers of the movement, one of the movement participants.”

yep… that, and more.

“Justice”

This next generation is so much better than us. I find so much hope in these two. These two are the future.

Aaron and Pharoah have marched/rode in more protests than probably any adult you know. Two more day ones. The movement, Breewayy, speaking against injustice… these are literally some of their favorite things!

Let’s leave this world a lot better for them, they deserve it.

“I came out as a videographer but during the protesting, being in the marches and stuff, I had to put my camera down to the side because I got more into… involved in the movement.”

Seven is a local content creator and at the beginning of the movement really felt like it was their job to be out documenting everything that was happening. But soon the movement took hold of them and it went way further than just creating content. Seven has begun to find their voice and more of their passion in the movement. Breewayy (and the movement) has had this effect on so many people and it has been absolutely beautiful to watch.

“Imma continue to be out here, they can roll my casket when they do a march because I wanna be out here fighting for justice as a freedom fighter until my people are truly free! We don’t have freedom. That’s why I’m out here!”

Ms. Rhonda isn’t just a protestor or even an elder… Ms. Rhonda is the movement. She embodies so much of what this movement is about. Ms. Rhonda is everywhere, doing everything, for everyone with nothing but love and the most beautiful smile. She’s at every march, she’s at every event, fist in the air and chanting right along side everyone else… and that’s also her over there passing out snacks … and… that was her over there dancing with that group of kids… and yep, she’s also showing up to events for my kids that she’s never met… because that’s just who she is.

Ms. Rhonda makes me a better and happier human every time I’m in her presence and I believe she has that effect on so many others. I think we all need to be a little more like Ms. Rhonda.

“I want to become healed. This is why I’m here, to become healed. And this is why i’m gonna stay here until I’m healed, until we are free, until the chains are broken.”

Corey is such a beautiful soul, someone that I am blessed to call a friend.

Similar to Seven, Corey goes back and forth between documenting the movement and also standing alongside those fighting. I would highly encourage you to follow Corey’s photography pages either on FB (@coreytynesco) or IG (@coreytynesinc) and really see the movement, the world through their lens and eyes.

”I’m out here because Breonna Taylor could have been me… it could have been me at any point in my life.”

Amber started out like many others in the protests, being a participant and filling whatever roles or voids were necessary. She was out there fighting for Black liberation and that’s really enough, more than enough.

But soon people started to look to Amber for guidance and direction and Amber found herself in more of a leadership/organizer role. She has led multiple actions and marches, many people deemed safe enough for kids to participate and make their voices heard.

To me, with the kids is where Amber really shines! She does such a good job of crafting actions that really allow them to plug in and feel apart of the movement… not to mention coordinating and providing a FULL Christmas for 100+ kids in our community!

“I’m a protestor, that’s all I am. I’m the chef at the protest, that’s all I am. I’m here stepin’… at the end of the day I’m still fighting for Black liberation.”

Braylin was popping up on a lot of folks radar due to the waves he was making in the culinary world. My mans makes the best cheesecake in the planet.

But during the protests is when he really gained the hearts and respect of a lot of people, including me. Every since the beginning of the movement, Braylin put his dreams and life on hold to take a stand with his community for justice and Black liberation. He has been on the front lines pretty much daily, putting his freedom, and even life on the line for the cause.

“if we don’t stand up for it and we won’t be the change, who’s going to?”

This one goes HARD for those she loves and cares about. I’ve seen her put her body on the line time and time again to protect others. I have seen her provide rides, shelter, shielding, protection, and SOO much more for others, even for some she doesn’t know.

“and I will continue to always fight because I believe in justice, I believe in Justice. And I’m not tired yet… when I woke up this morning my mind was on freedom!”

I’m trying to learn when elders speak, shut up and listen.

“I believe that for 400 years Black people have been, literally enslaved in America in one way or another even though we are in 2021. We are still being killed by police officers, we have still not achieved economic justice, we have not achieved our reparations even though we built this country. But what I’m here primarily is Breonna Taylor, for Ahmaud Arbery, for George floyd, for all of those voices that have ben silenced at the hands of the police.

And I do believe that when we protest-protest is the voice of the unheard. And what we have to do is continue to not ever grow weary but to continue fighting the good fight. John Lewis, Congressman John Lewis has stated that we must always fight the good fight. And that’s why I’m here, and I will continue to always fight because I believe in justice. I believe in justice and I’m not tired yet!

What motivates me this morning, cause when I woke up this morning my mind was on freedom. Peace.”

“cause nobody’s free until all of us free. We need Black collective liberation for all of us because nobody’s free until all of us is free.”

Israel is another beautiful human that ALWAYS shows up if he is able. His heart really beats for his community and his people. He shows up, pretty much daily, to fight for ALL inequalities and injustice facing Blacks in our country.

“I don’t think that everybody is treated equal… I think that it’s worth fighting for because everybody needs to be equal.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

These kids in the movement never cease to amaze me. They know why they are out there. They really see what’s going on. This is the generation that I am the most excited for.

Jeff (11) and Richelle (7) are brother and sister from St. Louis but they traveled with their mom to Louisville to participate and stand with us in the one-year Breonna Taylor memorial.

“Breonna Taylor was a young Black girl. It is my duty, it is my job to make sure that every young Black girl… know that they’re loved, know that they have a voice and know that they matter and their lives mattered as well.”

If you have ever talked with Nicole, or seen her work, then you know one thing is clear… her mission is to bring people together! She does that through mentoring, through community programs and she definitely does this within the movement. Nicole is busy behind the scenes connecting people with one another, connecting people with supplies, and connecting Louisville with national organizations to get resources and help. And this is really just scratching the service!

“Poised to make an even greater impact on the community and the world, Nicole will continue to keep three things at the front of her work: the people, the passion, and the purpose to leave the world a more confident, beautiful, and just place.” (via her website, https://www.friendsofnicole.com/ )

“then you have the poor Black people man, who struggling! Who tryin their best man, to just live a good life man, that’s all they wanna do like anybody else. But every day they have to try to figure out, how can they gain their human rights. Which is a given, but yet they’re not getting.”

I first had the honor of meeting Neal, June 1st, the morning after the murder of David McAtee at the hands of LMPD and the National Guard. He was hurting, he was angry, and yet he kept taking time out to tell me and two of my buddies how thankful he was that we were standing out there with him. Every time he came over to speak to us, we listened! His words were full of so much power, wisdom, and life… we would have been ignorant not to absorb every word.

That’s my hope for you as you watch this, absorb every word. Take time to REALLY listen to someone else and their story.

“So I’m gonna keep coming out, you’ll keep seeing my face, you’ll keep hearing my voice. Cause I don’t give a damn about all the things that other people give a damn about. I only give a damn about Black liberation, right, Black equality man, Black justice man.”

“I don’t want them to ever have to go through any of this, or to be put in a situation where they feel like they’re going to die because of the police. Because nobody, even if they’re not my family, no child should ever have to feel that way or go through any of that.”

Though she is wise beyond her years, Lillie is only 14 years old. For hundreds of days, she has stood, marched, and even been AGGRESSIVELY arrested by LMPD for standing for Black lives and Black Liberation. She sees that something is wrong and she refuses to be silent or complicit. We COULD ALL learn something from this kiddo, I know I do on a regular basis.

“It’s deeper than Breonna Taylor, of course, Breonna Taylor is why Louisville is protesting but it started way before Breonna Taylor. There’s a lot of injustice going on, everywhere… there’s a lot of other names we could say.”

Another young man that has been on the front lines since the beginning. Cedo is also another young man that has found more purpose in life through the movement and fight for Black liberation.

On the front lines, Cedo is willing to do just about anything asked, from helping carry supplies to being security… but it’s what he is doing behind the scenes that really impresses me. Cedo, along with some other young leaders are actively trying to change the community around them, they are trying to bring unity and peace and put an end to all of the violence plaguing our streets.

“young folks can still make a difference… we need to look out for them… I would like to make sure that they have the resources, the knowledge, whatever it is that they need so that they can feel all the lanes and make a change.”

Momma B is truly out here for these young folks! Day in and day out, you can find her in the streets, mentoring kids, opening her home, providing resources… literally doing ANYTHING that is necessary to help the next generation. I have an immense amount of love and respect for this woman.

Not only has she been out protesting on the frontlines, almost daily, since the movement started… she has been tear-gassed, shot at with rubber bullets, watched her son get aggressively arrested by LMPD, and at one point she was struck by a police car while crossing a crosswalk!! Yet, despite all of this… even with crutches, she was back out there fighting.

“we all just wanna show up and show everyone that we’re not going anywhere, we’re not gonna forget about her.”

Dani joined a group of protestors and activists from Grand Rapids, where Breonna is from. Members of the group, Justice for Black Lives, have been active and supportive of Breewayy and others in Louisville since the early days of the protest.

“you know, we need justice and we need for these police to be prosecuted… we are getting tired of this, that you keep brushing it up under the rug thinking that we gonna forget. We are not gonna forget! We got lives murdered on this corner right here!”

I am going to ask a little something different with today’s feature. Wayne was obviously using his voice and this opportunity to speak directly to certain people and I think his voice deserves to be heard by those people. So that’s where you guys come in… let’s tag the mayor, send this to the mayor, whatever it takes… let’s just get his voice heard!

Wayne has been out in the streets every single day since the beginning. If there is ever a time that I’m at the square and he isn’t there, I low-key worry about him! Weather, older age, health issues, a fake leg… none of that stops Wayne from fighting for Breonna Taylor and justice for ALL Black lives. He’s there, he shows up, and he’s not forgetting all the injustice any time soon!

“they only doin it for they self and they making money off of us. We are tired, we are so sick and tired. I’m 60 years old, I been out here forever and I’m gonna still be out here until God calls me home!”

“This community right here when it comes to BREEWAYY, or Injustice Square, or whatever you wanna call it, like we created our own community. We created spaces that a lot of people wasn’t welcome to. We created a whole, everything, like look at us this is beautiful around us.”

Another leader, another day one, another Black King. Chris has consistently been a loud voice in this movement since the beginning. He has led countless marches, supported and walked beside others as they led, and has put his ALL into it the entire time.

“I’m out here for Black liberation. umm, I was and am still gonna be out here for Breonna but the overall bigger purpose than that-because liberation is bigger than one of us, it’s bigger than Breonna, it’s bigger than myself… I’m out here because I wanna see my people free, I wanna see my people liberated, happy, at peace.”

One of my most requested features, Carmen has been an absolute FORCE within the Louisville movement since the very beginning. Even in the first days, when no one really knew her, she spoke and lead with power, and passion… and she continues to do so today.

Whether she is standing toe to toe with a riot line in full battle gear, or a bunch of tourist cheerleaders with bows, she is unwavering and her message and passion are the same. It’s all about Black liberation, any means necessary.

“I was definitely inspired by the murder of Breonna Taylor but, um, through that inspiration it awakened a further passion for me to continue to push for Black liberation and you know just for all marginalized communities to have a fair shot at the same kind of resources that our oppressors get.”

Phelix has such an amazing story when it comes to the movement, not only did she kind of find her passion and purpose, she also kind of found out who she was as a human, the movement literally helped her step into who she truly was.

Ever since the beginning of the protests, not only has Phelix been involved as a protestor but immediately she was organizing and figuring out how to make this fight better for the people on her side. In the beginning days, that was really focused on getting supplies and resources together and making supply drops around the city. As needs changed so did her role within and she soon found herself working/and leading groups helping with eviction court.

Now, that’s where you can find Phelix, in eviction court helping and serving her community. That’s where she holds space, that is her protest. Over the next few weeks we will be introducing some new voices, some that maybe you don’t recognize because they aren’t your typical “Breewayy protestors” but they are still VITAL to this movement, they are still protestors and activists and they still have a voice!

“one of the greatest joys I have is supporting the next generation because this fight is a long fight, and we have to keep fighting, and I wanna be here to be strength and support for them.”

If you haven’t had the please of meeting Nana, allow me to introduce you to one of the most amazing humans in this movement! Nana works tirelessly, day in and out, being an ally, loving, and supporting marginalized and oppressed communities.

Nana really does so much behind-the-scenes work that it would be a disservice to try and list all that she does. I will take a second though and point you to one project she is working with that is doing great work in the city, and that is https://www.the490project.com/

“being out here for my people made me wanna educate myself outside of the protest, you know, as far as Black liberation, you know as far as even speaking about reparations, and just learning about my people period.”

Today’s feature has been by far the most requested voice, almost daily I have had folks in my DM’s asking me to video Uno Strong and for good reason, the man has an AMAZING story, and maybe one day we will be able to tell more of it!

Uno is another one that has been down on the front lines since the very beginning. He’s also another one that has found even more life purpose and meaning through being involved with the movement. He’s a protestor, he’s an activist, he’s a leader, he’s Unc!

“I don’t wanna sit at home and twiddle my thumbs and tell my future kids, I didn’t do anything for this protest. That’s why I’m out here.”

Graham spent the first couple of days of the protests watching at home like a lot of others from the safety of their homes. But by day three he was in the streets marching for those in his community that look different than him.

“Day 6, I came down here day 6. I came down here to start cooking for the protestors. I seen on the news where they had a good fight going and I just thought that I could provide my services by feeding them the nutrients that they needed to keep up the good fight that they was fighting.”

Chaunda really says it all in her own voice. She saw a need early on and stepped up to feel that need. Along the way she has been arrested, had her car impounded and dealt with aggressive police many times, has been threatened and had her life in jeopardy many times, and yet despite all that she continues to show up, cook and provide FREE DELICIOUS MEALS to protestors and others in the community with that big smile on her face.

Food. Nutrition. Community. Full bellies and happy hearts.

“We don’t have to come out here, we get to come out here and that’s why we continue to show up.”

There are many voices within this movement. Protesting comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s holding a sign in the street and sometimes it’s running down the road with her name on your bib.

Over the next 8 days, all of the voices featured will be a part of a local chapter of a larger movement known as, Run for Breonna.

These amazing humans have shown up every Saturday since August to run 3.13 miles in honor of Breonna Taylor. Not only do they run for awareness, but they are also working to actively change policy by making sure their voice is heard. Every week they meet and Stephanie shares updates about legislation before the run, and then afterward they write postcards to our elected officials demanding change. Their passion has become their protest.

“And I’m just tired, I’m tired of not only having to worry about day-to-day life like everybody else does but also just fearing for my life when I’m just out in everyday living… it’s exhausting.”

Jocelyn is a part of the core group of runners that show up every week for the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna. These amazing folks have shown up every single Saturday since August, this past week made week 36, they discuss weekly updates, run 3.13 miles, and then gather back for a call to action. This past weeks call to action was,

1. Demand that US attorney general Merrick Garland open a federal investigation into Breonna’s Murder.

1a. Sign + share the petition at the link in our bio to increase exposure!

2. Demand that Mayor Fischer provide transparency into FOP+LMPD contract negotiations

“I find this a ray of hope… we are all here for the purpose of finding justice and tolerance and ways to live constructively with each other.”

Carroll is a part of the core group of runners that show up every week for the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna. These amazing folks have shown up every single Saturday since August, this past week made week 36, they discuss weekly updates, run 3.13 miles, and then gather back for a call to action. This past weeks call to action was,

1. Demand that US attorney general Merrick Garland open a federal investigation into Breonna’s Murder.

1a. Sign + share the petition at the link in our bio to increase exposure!

2. Demand that Mayor Fischer provide transparency into FOP+LMPD contract negotiations

“the only way for things to move forward in this community, in this country is for us to keep social injustices in the light, in the front of peoples minds”

Dan is a part of the core group of runners that show up every week for the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna. These amazing folks have shown up every single Saturday since August, this past week made week 36, they discuss weekly updates, run 3.13 miles, and then gather back for a call to action. This past weeks call to action was,

1. Demand that US attorney general Merrick Garland open a federal investigation into Breonna’s Murder.

1a. Sign + share the petition at the link in our bio to increase exposure!

2. Demand that Mayor Fischer provide transparency into FOP+LMPD contract negotiations

“I know that my door would of never been kicked down and I never would of been murdered in the middle of the night. Breonna Taylor could of been me but she never would of been because I am a white woman.”

Brittni is one of the leaders for the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna. Every Wednesday since August, after the group runs 3.13 miles, they all gather back together and Brittni leads them in a time of reflection and call to action. That call to action is a little different every week but primarily focuses on writing postcards to those in power demanding Justice! This past week’s specific actions were,

1. Demand that US attorney general Merrick Garland open a federal investigation into Breonna’s Murder.

1a. Sign + share the petition at the link in our bio to increase exposure!

2. Demand that Mayor Fischer provide transparency into FOP+LMPD contract negotiations

“I’m here to make sure that Breonna Taylor’s legacy, along with the legacy of George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery, and everyone else who has died at the hands of injustice, that their legacies are also boons or catalysts for change moving forward.”

Eric is a runner with the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna. This past week was their 37th week meeting up on Saturdays to run 3.13 miles in memory of Breonna Taylor. Every week they meet up after the run to have strategic plans of action. This week’s actions are,

“Continue to contact his office with us to demand an investigation into LMPD & their murder of Breonna Taylor. Continue to contact Mayor Fischer and your councilperson’s office to demand transparency into FOP + LMPD contract negotiations. Sustained, long-term pressure has a history of effecting change in this country.”

“I am out here because I want to set a good example for my daughters.”

and that’s all the reason needed right there.

Dani is a runner with the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna. This past week was their 37th week meeting up on Saturdays to run 3.13 miles in memory of Breonna Taylor. Every week they meet up after the run to have strategic plans of action. This week’s actions are,

“Breonna Taylor is me, Breonna Taylor is my friends, my nieces. Really she’s all of us, ya know. Any of us could experience what she experienced.. and it’s just not right.”

Janelle is one of the many runners that show up every week with the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna.

This past week was their 37th week meeting up on Saturdays to run 3.13 miles in memory of Breonna Taylor. Every week they meet up after the run to have strategic plans of action. This week’s actions are,

“old white men are a lot of the problem and I’m an old white man and I think I need to be out here and I need to be on this side of this cause”

Todd is one of the many runners that show up every week with the Louisville chapter of Run for Breonna.

“I wanna leave this world a better place than I found it… if we don’t, history will continue to repeat itself and that’s something that is not okay. It’s not okay to not leave this world better than we found it, all of us, it’s not just those of us that are elected in certain positions. We all have the ability to make a positive difference and we get to so how dare we not?”

Stephanie is is the main leader for Louisville’s chapter of Run for Breonna. Every Saturday for 37 weeks now, she has gathered with other runners to run 3.13 miles in memory of Breonna Taylor. But she knew right away that this had to be more than just running, so she incorporated a time of reflection, learning, and action! This week’s action items were,

“I don’t got all the answers, I’m just playing my part and tryna make change the best way I can which is being out here and ya know, letting my voice be heard.”

Duarelle is another day one down at Breewayy and an OG member of B.U.T. (Blacks Unified Together, a group that has provided bodies, security, and resources to those at Breewayy on a daily basis.) If you go down to the square, especially through last summer and this past winter, there was a good chance you would run into Duarelle. Always there willing to do whatever, and always with a big smile on his face showing off those golds!

“some people looked up and said, ya know, what if it was your family or what if it was, ya know, someone that you personally knew? Well, that’s how it is for me like it was my brother… the movement is everything to me, it’s everything to me.”

Today’s voice is another one of our most requested to do. Jamie is someone that has been involved with the movement since the beginning days, even before their brother David McAtee was gunned down by LMPD and the National Guard on June 1, 2020, as a result of the cities poor response to the communities unrest. Since then, Jamie has given their ALL to this movement, being at the square nearly every single day, helping to raise up and empower the youth, and just doing anything else necessary or asked of them.

Through tragedy, through trials and pain, Jamie found a voice that they didn’t know they had.

“it means more to me of unity and loving people and letting people be who they are and where they are”

A lot of you know Breewayy’s pastor Stachelle… but you may not know the amazing Queen that raised her, Stacie. Everyone’s protest is different, while Stachelle is out doing the amazing work in the community that she is doing, Stacie is at home praying for the work being done. Every role is needed.

“and man listen, I heard about Breonna and I’m like, yo this is crazy! I got angry… Breonna, Breonna was that-that push to really make us stand for what we need to stand for and that’s why I’m here man.”

Most everyone has the opportunity to hear Dee speak since being assaulted by LMPD but I still remember the first night that Dee showed up at the square with that big wooden cross. That night we marched with Dee and the cross in the front and I think he immediately knew that this is where he belonged.

After that first moment, I don’t think a day went by that Dee wasn’t pouring out everything that he had for the movement and for the commUNITY of BREEWAYY. Dee has provided hundreds of free haircuts, rides places, security, and muscle for the square and literally ANYTHING and EVERYTHING else that has ever been asked of him.

“our police are there to serve and protect and they are sworn to protect us but we know the color of your skin determines the degree of protection that you get.” Shameka

“this is not a game, this is our life, and these are our babies, this is our future… so yea, we had to come out here.” Tia

We had to make our 50th voice someone special… and then we decided to hit you with a double whammy! Shameka and Tia are two Queens that have been involved in this fight for Black liberation, equity, and justice LONG before the murder of Breonna Taylor. For years and years, they have been doing whatever it takes, working endlessly towards the goal and they deserve more flowers than we could ever give them.

I don’t usually drop plugs into these but they are doing so much work that NEEDS our support and attention. Go check out their work with the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression ( http://www.kentuckyalliance.org/ ), the bail project ( https://bailproject.org/ ), and support Shamekas run for Mayor ( https://shamekaparrishwright.com/) !!