About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition - June 6-7, 2020 13A Christen Lott Hunte protests with others on the side of Jesse Jewell Parkway on June 2. Left: La’nesha Mize of Gainesville said she decided to protest over the last weekend in May because “enough is enough.” Right: Jovany Romero of Gainesville said he has been protesting for days because he wants “equality for the black community.” Left: Joseph Jack of Gainesville he hopes to convey the message that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Right: Jevanta Reid of Gainesville said he wants the community to understand that for all lives to matter, black lives have to matter. Roxie Fricton, an 18-year-old from Dawsonville, protests on June 2 along Jesse Jewell Parkway to help fight against racism. STORIES ■ Continued from 1A black people and others of color are treated. He encourages white people to speak up against racism and defend African Americans. “I think as a community we have to stick together and let the city of Gaines ville know that we will not tolerate any bigotry, racism or discrimination of any kind,” he said. While Romero protests in Gainesville, he said he makes a point to spread the names of those who have lost their lives to racial acts of hatred like Floyd, Bre- onna Taylor and others. Being out in the public, he said he is able to have conversations with people about racial injustice as well as spread accurate information. If he could give one mes sage to those who regularly drive by Jesse Jewell Park way, he said he would ask them to do more than honk. “Join us and be a part of the right side of history, and make your voice be heard,” Romero said. If you’re interested in supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, Romero recommends visiting black- livesmatters.carrd.co. Jevanta Reid Jevanta Reid, 25, who was born and raised in Gaines ville, said he knows from personal experience what it is like to be harassed by the police for being black. Not too long ago when he was riding in the passenger side of a vehicle with one of his white female friends and her sister, he said a police officer pulled them over for a defective tail light. As soon as the officer noticed Reid, he said the conversation took a turn. “They were like, ‘How do you know him? How do you know these two people?,’” Reid recounted. Reid said he makes a point to treat everyone, no matter their background, with respect. The recent incident is only one of many where people have judged him by the color of his skin before getting to know him, he said. “You (white people) can’t begin to imagine what we go through, but unless you live with black people and see it yourself, it’s only what you see and hear from every body else,” he said. “Edu cate yourself. Don’t say, ‘Black lives matter, but .. ’ You’re defeating the whole purpose.” If one thing could arise from all the protests and ral lies, Reid said he hopes for everyone to see the bigger picture, which is Christ. He recommends people read the parable of the lost sheep, found in the book of Luke, chapter 15, in the Bible. “If we put him (Christ) first, everything else will fall into place,” Reid said. “My message to the Christians is: Everybody knows every body’s life is important. But the thing is, what we’re try ing to share is that all lives can’t matter until black lives matter.” For those who have expressed concern about protesters tearing apart brick and mortar businesses, he assures them the dam aged property can easily be replaced. However, black lives like Floyd and Trayvon Martin cannot be replaced. While protesting in Gainesville, Reid said he saw a white guy and a couple of his friends saying, “if you can say, ‘I can’t breathe,’ then you can breathe. “When Jesus was dying on the cross, he was having a conversation before he took his last breath,” Reid said. “If you do come out here to protest, please be out here for the right reasons. Yes, we were protesting this weekend for George Floyd, but this whole movement is for Black Lives Matter.” La’nesha Mize La’nesha Mize, 26, of Gainesville, had never pro tested until Saturday, May 30. When she heard of Floyd’s death, she said emotions of helplessness and emptiness swept over her. “I just felt like enough was enough, and I needed to stand up,” Mize said. “I wanted to come out and show people we (African Americans) are human too.” By protesting in Gaines ville, Mize said she wants to share the message that if people join together and stand with African Ameri cans, then they can ulti mately beat racism. As a young black woman, Mize said she often faces racism when she least expects it. Recently, Mize said she visited a convenience store, and because she was in a hurry, she quickly strode inside. In the front of the line leading to the cash register, she noticed a white woman react. “When she saw me walk in, she clutched her purse and grabbed her husband’s arm,” Mize recounted. “When I saw that, for one, I was puzzled. Because you don’t know me, you don’t know the type of person I am. You’ve just seen the color of my skin.” For those who have never been judged by the color of their skin, she asks them to hold people who are overtly or covertly racist accountable. “You know who’s racist,” she said. “If it’s your mom, your dad, your friends or whomever, it really starts in your inner circle. All lives can’t matter until black lives matter. It’s not that we’re being selfish. We’re speak ing out for ourselves.” Mize said she has wit nessed some people who have joined the protests for the wrong reasons. She said it seems like some people are hanging out near the protesters because they have nothing better to do. “You’re not getting the message across,” Mize said. “It’s only making the Black Lives Matter movement look horrible. People are already looking at us like we’re ani mals. We’re just tired.” Roxie Fricton Standing across from the CVS in downtown Gaines ville, Roxie Fricton, 18, of Dawsonville, held a sign expressing that even though she’s not black, she will stand with African Americans. “It felt wrong to be at home,” Fricton said. “It felt wrong to not stand up for people who don’t have a voice. I want to do all that I can to end the systemic rac ism that is recurring in this nation. We’re trying to end this once and for all.” Fricton describes the state of the world as “revolu tionary times.” She encourages white peo ple to educate themselves, donate and stand up for the movement. When people see racial injustices in front of them, she asks them to not be silent, even around family members and friends. “Have uncomfortable conversations and stand up for what you believe in,” Fricton said. “Now is not the time for not saying any thing for the sake of being comfortable. That’s how you make change.” When the protests end, Fricton said she hopes rac ism covertly and overtly Photos by KELSEY P0D0 I The Times stops. She also wants to see new hate crime legislation in Georgia. “What I want to say is when this is all over, what are you doing? she said. “When the social media posts have stopped, what are you doing? It can’t go back to normal after this.”
