Living in coronavirusworld 74: when will you say my name

6/5

Remembering Breonna Taylor

One of the actions today was a birthday commemoration for 26 year old Breonna Taylor of Louisville, Kentucky who died as a result of Kentucky’s  controversial “no-knock” warrant law..Police entered her home with no warning.

On the  way to 125th street, I notice one of the city’s ubiquitous   information kiosk stands.  Since Black Out Tuesday, these screens continue to show the names of those killed by police. Silent, graphic, 24 hours a day the names keep scrolling through. I find something very moving  by this, like a piece of contemporary street installation art.  

Her day

The action takes place at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr State Office Building. The ceremony takes place on the statue of former Harlem congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. which is engraved with a record of  his legislative achievements. Another side carries this quote: Press forward at all times, climbing forward toward that higher ground of the harmonious society that shapes the laws of man to the laws of God."

Adm Clayton Powell, Jr. quote

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr

A crowd of several hundred has gathered. In the shadows of the office building two squads of police  stand  by, looking bored. Across 125th street,  police in riot gear stand at the ready.

memorial

But the event itself is the model of quiet and solemn. It seems to  have  been planned and mostly  executed by young black women who want to have the particularities of that experience, those  who want   to have their stories, heard. The leader cedars the plaza to make it holy.

holy ground

These words from her opening spoken word performance stayed with me :  “When we say their names, I wonder when you all will be saying mine…’ That’s what our neighbors live with…knowing that every day their very lives could be snatched away from  them. 

Say their names

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Along the periphery are volunteers with masks, sanitizers, wipes, snacks, water…and a numbers to call if arrested.

Walking along 125th,

good time for yuor merchandose

I am shocked to see all the boarded up buildings in preparation for expected vandalism and looting. Most covered with graffitti.  (It never comes.).

On the boards

bImmediately in my head I go back to being in Santiago Chile last October. That felt a bit more pervasive and there was central gathering locale.  I wonder how along these portrait can last. But the boarded up buildings and shop windows take me back.      

                                         a memorial                                               

****

If the NFL was serious in its apology to the players for not hearing them in their peaceful protest, if i.   was  serious it would have mentioned Colin Kaepernick by name and called him to come home at last.  Otherwise it’s  just an empty posture. 

****

Trying to get home, I run into barricades set up by the NYPD.  They've created a two block perimeter around the precinct house in every direction. I've got to walk a total of 4 avenues and 2 blocks to get back to my path. When I ask the officer guarding the perimeter why? he says, We can't be having people coming and throwing molotov cocktails at us..."

Guarding the precinct from us

****

Our open mic again is a comfort,  place to gather and share music. And conversation, Tonight I welcome everyone to another concert in the :Grateful Distancing Stay at Home Tour 2020.

welcome ot the tour

****

My Yemeni friends at the corner closes the store at 8 to avoid harrasment by the police over curfew breaking. This has created created problems.  Only two nights left .

****

My neighbors are talking outside. Eddie, part of the post world War II Southern migration to Harlem,  recalls growing up in North Carolina being forced to ride in the back of the  bus.  And recalls  14 cousins perished in a house, burned to death in a fire.. fire set by the Ku Klux Klan.