Youth-led BLM protests resume throughout Portland
By Essie Ashton ‘21s
Protesters at Pdxblackyouthmvmt march, August. 27, 2020. Photo courtesy of jadawayfilms
After a short break due to hazardous air quality in mid-September, Black Lives Matter protests continue. Organizers have a lot to say about the recent events.
On Sept. 26, thousands of people took to the streets protesting and counter-protesting as Proud Boys, an alt-right extremist group, came into Portland to hold a rally.
Youth organizations all over the city have come together to unite against the Proud Boys, the police, and in preparation for the election in November.
Fridays for Freedom is a collective of Black youth and their allies fighting for Black liberation. Arieanna Morehead, one of the lead organizers, has been working hard to push for systemic change.
“My goal in the Black Lives Matter movement is to bring awareness to all of the people who are educated on Black history and what we go through on a daily basis,” Morehead stated.
Morehead wants people to understand the significance of this movement, specifically on Generation Z.
“What we learn is what the next couple of generations will learn, so that is why we have to make change now,” she said.
Morehead also feels that the media spreads a lot of false information that invalidates their organization's true message.
“As much as people try to devalue our movement, it will never happen,” Morehead stated.
Pdxblackyouthmvmt is another youth-led organization which is run by and focused on centering the voices of Black women. Jada Hampton is the photographer and executive director of the organization.
Hampton expressed that the issues they are fighting for are much bigger than some many believe.
“We’re still out here fighting, and these problems don’t just change with an Instagram post,” Hampton said. “As a photographer, I feel as if it is my job to show the correct narrative of what’s actually happening throughout the movement.”
With the upcoming election, both organizations are focused on continuing to make their voices heard and spread awareness about the importance and urgency of their work.