As we near November, Def Pen will provide coverage of national and local elections. However, creating change does not simply happen at the ballot box. In addition to launching the “99 N’ Counting” series, it is our hope to spotlight 99 movements and leaders that are inspiring revolutions beyond a voting booth. “Beyond The Ballot” begins today by spotlighting a protest movement emerging in New York, New York.
In May, Chelsea Miller and Nialah Edari came together to lead a demonstration to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the destruction of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the next few weeks, the two Columbia University graduates turned their demonstration into a movement known as Freedom March NYC.
Now joined by 17-year-old activist Nia White, the youth-led Civil Rights group has organized nearly a dozen demonstrations over the last 10 weeks. Most notably, the group led a demonstration last month that effectively shut down the Brooklyn Bridge.
“We now have all 50 states paying attention,” Miller said.
“So now the question is how do we push even further past conversations about the police’s use of chokeholds and think about the system as a whole,” she continued.
The group has also launched its “Five To Freedom 2020” platform that calls for revolutionizing the city’s education system, removing officers from classrooms, ending qualified immunity and much more.
Not to mention, Edari and Miller have raised more than $60,000. Freedom March NYC hopes to use the funds to build out its infrastructure, provide supplies for front line protesters and much more.
Moving forward, New York residents can learn more about Freedom March NYC by following them on Instagram and Twitter or visiting their website.
