This year has turned so many typical events upside-down, and with this, we’ve had to adapt. We face new challenges of which many of us could never have prepared for.
Social-distancing protests and online assemblies have both impeded and enhanced our means of action. Furthermore, if the pandemic wasn’t enough, we’ve certainly had an eventful year of politics to keep up with.
Our team have supported numerous events this summer, the consequences of spacial-awareness has allowed for large audiences to experience a new and enhanced form of protest. For those who suffer with anxiety, this has been a very welcoming change. It’s allowed us the ability to hear first-hand experiences with no interruptions and to move across protest sites with ease, a much different event than our regular demonstrators are used to.
As you may have seen from our social media, Stoke and Stafford Black Lives Matter protests have truly been an amazing experience, a generation of activists spreading kindness and knowledge to crowds who want equality for their loved ones and their communities.
Each and every BLM speaker has had an immense impact on our supporting members. Delivering a very clear understanding of why our city’s racial victims stories need to be told.
Only when we can acknowledge the affliction will any developments be made. Our council leaders need to change this wide-spread discriminatory behaviour.
"2020 has been an incredible year for Black Lives Matter. As leader of BLM for Stoke I feel honoured and privileged to have met such amazing, compassionate and socially aware individuals from such diverse backgrounds.
As a Black woman from a community with such a long and chequered history of anti Black racism, to have people want to listen to the lived experiences of myself and other members of the Black community, stand with us and behind us to elevate our voice has been truly touching and empowering. We still have much work to do but we know that we are up to task. We are the change. No justice, no peace."
Sara Chevolleau,
BLM for Stoke Leader & SABLE - Staffordshire Association for Black Lives Equality Founder
If you’d like to get involved, please email: blmforstoke@gmail.com