"The system was not made for us," said Isabella James Indellicati. "We have to build a system to include everyone… The country was not made for Black lives. We need to make it for Black lives."
A new youth group, Gen Z: We Want to Live organized a march from Burnside Park to the Rhode Island State House on Sunday, and staged a dramatic, moving and stunning "die-in" in the streets outside Providence Place Mall. Hundreds of people dropped to the ground for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a Minneapolis Police Officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd, murdering him.
The die-in was not the only dramatic event planned by the youth. As youth addressed the crowd of around 1000people, a second march joined the rally, this one led by Code Black RI, a group of doctors, medical students and healthcare workers who see racism and police violence as pandemic in America.
Gen Z: We Want to Live was founded by students Jaychele Nicole Schenck and Isabella James Indellicati. The event was organized in partnership with PROVZ, (Progressive Reform Overrides Violence, Led by Generation Z), founded by Brooklyn. You can see their press conference announcing the rally here.
Below is video from the event, as well as pictures.
At Burnside Park:
The march from Burnside Park to the Rhode Island State House:
Arriving at the State House:
"We're fighting for our lives," said Nicole Schenck to the crowd. "I haven't even graduated high school yet, and I'm here leading a protest because nothing has changed!"
"The system was not made for us," said James Indellicati. "We have to build a system to include everyone... The country was not made for Black lives. We need to make it for Black lives."
"In these times right now, it important for all of to understand that, the Governor, the Mayor, the Speaker, they are not in charge right now," said Brooklyn. "We are in charge."
Code Black RI arrives:
Celebrating President Donald Trump's Birthday:
More youth speakers:
Nine years old:
