>>> IN THE WAKE OF THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD WHILE IN POLICE
CUSTODY, THE COUNTRY HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN PROTESTS REGARDING
RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THIS YEAR.
AND SIMILAR PROTESTS HAVE BEEN ONGOING LOCALLY.
IN SOUTH HADLEY, A TOWN THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, RESIDENTS
HAVE GATHERED EVERY WEEK OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS FOR A
RACIAL JUSTICE VIGIL.
ROSS LIPPMAN VISITED THE VIGIL IN AUGUST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THEIR MESSAGE.
>> AT THE CENTER OF SOUTH HADLEY ON A SATURDAY MORNING, THE
CENTER CHURCH GREETS EVERYONE PASSING BY.
>> FAITH, JUSTICE, LOVE, WELCOMING, AFFIRMING ALL.
>> AND AS THE SUN PUSHES THROUGH THE CLOUDS --
>> THE YELLOW FLASHING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED, CARS MAY
NOT STOP.
>> PEOPLE START TO GATHER HERE.
IT'S THE 20TH STRAIGHT SATURDAY RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN TO THE
STREETS.
FOR THE TOWN-WIDE WEEKLY RACIAL JUSTICE VIGIL.
>> WE REALIZE THAT IF WE DIDN'T CONTINUE THIS, IT WOULD BE SO
EASY TO SLIP BACK TO OUR DEFAULT, JUST GOING BACK TO
NORMAL.
>> FOR 30 MINUTES EVERY SATURDAY, THEY STAND WITH SIGNS,
MESSAGES FOR EQUALITY AND CHANGE.
FOR LIVES LOST.
AND TO THE DANGERS THEY SAY COME WHEN WHITE VOICES ARE SILENT.
>> PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'RE A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE TOWN
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY LIKE SUCH A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE NEED
TO DO IT AND WE NEED THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD.
>> WHITE PEOPLE ACCOUNT FOR 90% OF SOUTH HADLEY'S POPULATION,
WHILE 2% ARE BLACK.
IT'S A DISPARITY MADE CLEAR AT A VIGIL FILLED WITH BLACK LIVES
MATTER SIGNS, BUT NO BLACK PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S A QUESTION I'M CONTINUE ACTUALLY ASKING, HOW DO
I NOT CENTER MYSELF IN THIS WHEN IT IS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE
TOWN.
>> IT'S NOT THE ONLY QUESTION SOME ARE FINDING HARD TO ANSWER.
>> HOW DO I WANT TO PUT THIS.
TO MAKE -- >> LIKE IRA.
HE COMES TO THE VIGIL NEARLY EVERY WEEK, AND IS STILL --
>> TO BRING, WELL -- >> TRYING TO FINE THE RIGHT
WORDS TO SAY.
>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO POINT OUT TO PEOPLE WHAT IT IS
THAT HAS CAUSED, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SOCIETY
TO HAPPEN.
>> IN THIS CLIMATE THE LAST THING THAT ANY WHITE PERSON
WANTS TO BE ACCUSED OF IS BEING A RACIST.
>> SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARISE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY NOT BE A RACIST.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO ENGAGE IN ANTI-RACIST WORK.
>> BASED IN SPRINGFIELD, THEIR MISSION IS TO FIGHT FOR POOR
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS THROUGH SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM.
SHE SAYS IT'S UP TO WHITE PEOPLE, LIKE THOSE ATTENDING THE
WEEKLY VIGIL IN SOUTH HADLEY, TO CONVINCE OTHER WHITE PEOPLE THAT
SYSTEMIC RACISM EXISTS.
>> WHITE PEOPLE CAN DO THAT EMOTIONAL LABOR, WHITE PEOPLE
NEED TO HOLD OTHER WHITE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND TALK ABOUT THESE
THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON IN OUR COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH NOBODY HERE
REALLY CREATED THE SYSTEMS, NONE OF US ARE THE PRODUCERS, BUT WE
ARE THE CONSUMERS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND IT'S SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO CONSUME THIS ANY MORE.
>> IT'S WORK THAT CAN START WITH FAMILIES, HAVING CONVERSATIONS
SURROUNDING RACE.
>> WE JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AND LEARN ABOUT
IT, AND IT'S HARD SOMETIMES, THERE'S DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.
I LOVE IT WHEN THEY HONK.
>> WHILE THE HONKING BY THOSE BEHIND THE WHEEL ARE A PASSING
SIGN OF SUPPORT, SOUTH HADLEY RESIDENT LILY NEWMAN FEELS --
>> YOU'RE WALKING AROUND WITH UNSEEN PRIVILEGE.
>> THE WEEKLY VIGIL ON ITS OWN DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
>> FOR ME IT'S GREAT TO SHOW UP, BUT NOW WHEN I SEE THAT THAT'S
THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY WE'VE DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO FORM A
GROUP THAT'S CENTERED ON HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ISSUES OF
RACE AND RACISM.
SO WE WANT TO HOST SOME EDUCATIONAL FORUMS, BRING IN
REALLY GREAT FOLKS WHO CAN TEACH ON SYSTEMIC RACISM TO GIVE WHITE
PEOPLE THE LANGUAGE SO THEY CAN START CHIPPING AWAY AT FAMILY
AND FRIENDS.
>> AND AS FOR IF THIS VIGIL HAS A GOAL THAT WOULD STOP MEETING
EVERY WEEK?
>> YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE DO EVERY SATURDAY
FROM NOW ON.
PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS THEIR HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK,
THAT THIS IS WHERE THEY FEEL CLOSEST TO GOD, STANDING ALONG
THE STREET.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR A FEW PEOPLE, IT'S ALL OF US TOGETHER.