Documenting the Black Lives Matter movement in San Diego
Documenting the Black Lives Matter movement in San Diego
The Say Her Name March goes to show how important protesting is in 2020
Tyler Pugmire / News Editor
When the organizers of the Say Her Name March came together to plan their march for Sunday, Aug. 23, their plan stemmed from Black women ages 15-22. Their main objective was to amplify Black women’s voices to raise awareness for others who have lost their lives to police brutality, racially-biased health systems, hate crimes, and domestic abuse. What they did not know is that later that night, the story of Jacob Blake would be spread around the country, as another Black man was injured at the hands of police brutality.
The Say Her Name March was planned by the creators of the @dreamhighblackgirls Instagram account, which is based in San Diego and holds virtual meetings to help inform followers about the injustices brought about to Black women in the country. Starting near East Village High School, the march went through downtown San Diego.
When the march started at 2:30 p.m., Jacob Blake was still going through his day as if it was just another Sunday in Kenosha. By the end of the night, Blake had been shot seven times by police officers.
Gabrielle Grimm, a sophomore at USD, was at the Say Her Name March.
“This was a peaceful march, focusing on how Black women are overlooked,” Grimm said. “Whether that be at their own protests, with others starting their own chants, or even in the workforce. The news tries to only show the violence that stems from protesting, but they miss the coverage of the incredible speakers that are doing their best to organize these marches to this day.”
Grimm continued on about the importance of protesting.
“These protests are really important because they allow a place for marginalized voices to be heard and for all people to come and stand in solidarity and listening,” Grimm said. “We need to keep showing up because there is power in numbers. Especially with those like Jacob Blake, protests have proven to be effective and I think protests are an important form of advocacy and often for marginalized groups there are no other platforms. When people are dying without accountability, there is no other choice than to protest.”
Grimm, who is from Seattle, has been protesting since the death of George Floyd, and protested at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, a citizen-occupied section of Seattle that did not allow a police presence. Grimm said that the picture painted by the news was different from the one she experienced.
After Jacob Blake’s experience with police left him paralyzed in the hospital, his father shared that Blake was then handcuffed to his bed, sparking protests to become larger across the country. The Get Your Knee off our Neck March was held in Washington D.C. on Aug. 28, and saw over 10,000 people marching for police accountability.
Jacob Blake’s story becoming national news also led to a boycott from all major league sports this week, as players from each league demanded to not play, in order to seek change from their respective bubbles.
Grimm urged USD students to take action to assist the Black Lives Matter movement.
“The best thing to do right now is to continue to educate yourself and not engage solely in performative activism,” Grimm said. “Sharing on social media but ask yourself, ‘What am I adding to the conversation? How might my passivity and privilege be harmful in our society?’ Show support to Black women, educate your conservative aunt, challenge what you believe, and don’t let the movement die.”
One way that students can find out about protests in the San Diego area is to follow @sdprotest on Instagram, which is an account that details what protests are going on, and how to come prepared.