Hundreds march for justice in Catskill

Catskill’s march was organized by six local women: Mercedes Brantley, Terrika and Teri Spears, Monique and Sylvia Chestnut and Chelsea Ivery. The Hudson community had a peaceful protest on Sunday at Promenade Hill Park.

Thursday’s march began at 5 p.m. at the Catskill Middle School, continued over the Black Bridge to the police station, ending at the Greene County Courthouse with prayer with guest speakers at each stop along the route.

The march came just two days after the 55th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and 15 before the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read to enslaved African-Americans in Texas.

Catskill Central School District Superintendent Ronel Cook spoke of his experience as a black man.

“As a man of color, I think it’s very important,” Cook said. “I live this every day. Many of you live this every day. It’s time. It’s time that we hold our government officials accountable. Each and every person that runs for office for change in policy, change in tactics, cultural diversity training, the list goes on.

Educating youth is also important, Cook said.

“It’s important we teach our children because they’re going pick up the torch and carry it and move it along,” he said. “To treat people with love, respect, at all times to respect diversity, to respect one another no matter who you are. It’s very important that we teach the next generation in the right way.”

At the police station, Brantley led the protesters in nine minutes of silence to represent the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that George Floyd struggled for breath. Many protesters kneeled.

Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson addressed local law enforcement at the police station.

“I hope the officers here aren’t just here for security,” Johnson said. “I hope they are here to listen and understand that people here are fed up.”

Johnson quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. when speaking of the events in Minneapolis.

“A threat to justice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere,” Johnson said.

Unlike protests in other cities, the protests in Hudson and Catskill would remain peaceful and not destroy businesses, Johnson said.

“We don’t follow, we lead,” he said.

April Walcott, a senior at Cairo-Durham High School, read a poem about what it is like to be a black woman in America. Walcott’s hands trembled as she used the megaphone and another organizer helped steady her. A tear streamed down Walcott’s face.

Other youths participating in the event included 2019 Catskill graduate Amara Wilson with a song, Niyana Owens, a Shenendahowa High School student, with a poem, another poem by Devin Woods and Maniah Spears, age 9.

Aaliyah Shook, a 9th grade Catskill student, said the march exceeded the expectations of the organizers.

Justice Brantley, a 2019 Catskill graduate, also delivered a message to the protesters.

“If they can’t see the problem, they are part of the problem,” he said.

The Rev. Catherine Schuyler read to protesters from the Bible about how all people are created in God’s image and encouraged the crowd to look around them.

“Thank you oh God, that although we kneeled for nine minutes, we stood up again,” Schuyler said during her prayer.

As the protesters marched toward the courthouse, village residents peered out of the windows, came out onto to their balconies and watched from rooftops.

Rounds of chants cycled up and down the line of protesters such as, “No justice, no peace, no racist police.”

Rachele Hall, associate director of Community Building and Co-curricular Programs at Westchester Community College, addressed the crowd about systemic racism.

“There is a deep fear of the police,” she said. “There is a narrative in black homes for black children. Say your name. Put your hands up. Tell them you don’t have anything sharp in your pockets. Stay silent. Follow their commands. This is the only way home to your mother. This is the only way home to your father. This is the only way. We know now more that ever that is not true.”

The Rev. Richard Turpin believed that change is already in motion, he said.

“We cannot afford this moment to be swept under the rug,” he said. “We’ve come too far now. There are 18,000 police stations in the United States. Eighteen thousand of them will change their training and their structure. George Floyd is now an American hero.”

The movement in the wake of Floyd’s death has “turned the world upside down,” Turpin said, describing it as “the biggest civil rights movement in the world.”

“We lit the torch of solidarity,” he said. “Enough is enough. The world has seen the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Brantley said the fight isn’t over.

“It doesn’t end here,” she said. “When you are witnessing injustice, speak up.”

Turpin agreed.

“It won’t stop until our neighbors and friends stop hitting the snooze button and have the courage to stand up for justice for all,” he said. “America, we can do better. America, we will do better.”

The Rev. Suzette Turpin led the crowd in a prayer, asking local law enforcement to hear what the group had to say Thursday and “not go back to business as usual.”

Turpin prayed that law enforcement “protect the people they promise to protect,” “walk in righteousness” and “with humility.”

Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said the march went smoothly.

“The event went extremely well,” Kusminsky said. “We had no issues whatsoever and I am thankful to the participants who peacefully made their voices heard. I, along with all of the other law enforcement officials are sworn to uphold the Constitution and we fully support the right of all citizens to peacefully assemble. We will continue to do all we can to protect and support those who wish to participate in peaceful public displays of their justifiable outrage at the way George Floyd died.”

Another protest is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday at the National Bank of Coxsackie in Coxsackie.