‘What It Means To Be An Ally.’ BLM Manasota speaks on protests and allies in Sarasota

As protests unfolded in Manatee and Sarasota counties throughout the week, following the death of George Floyd, there was a risk of black voices being stifled.

The Sarasota-Manatee Black Lives Matter Alliance joined its non-black allies in Payne Park on Friday morning, for an informational session on protests. It focused on “filling in the gap,” underscoring the need for allies to protect and uplift their black peers, not to overpower their message.

The opening speaker, Briana Lutzi, said the first step was to show up. More than 100 people took that step on Friday morning, joining the event: “What It Means To Be An Ally.”

Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who was shown on video holding his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, was fired and charged with second-degree murder. His former colleagues — Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng — face charges of aiding and abetting.

Lutzi acknowledged the charges and encouraged the crowd to remain focused. The push for equality started long ago, and the fight was far from over, she said.

“We cannot let our passion fizzle,” Lutzi said. “We cannot let our ally-ship go down the drain, and we cannot let our white comfort get the better of us, because it’s not over. As a white person, as a non-black person, I know we are so eager to get involved with protests.”

It can be easy to overlook injustice when the target is someone else, she said. And while it may be uncomfortable, Lutzi encouraged her audience to reflect on personal flaws and community issues.

“Do not look away,” she said. “Sit in those feelings, because everyone in the black community around you has no choice. They sit in those feelings every day, looking out and seeing another story. A person who looks just like them has been killed, just because of how they look.”

“Pretend that it was you,” Lutzi continued. “Have empathy, and also understand that you’re never fully going to understand, but you have to talk to your black friends. You have to talk to the black people around you. Ask the questions.”

Lutzi said the key to growth was to stop being defensive and start listening. And instead of ignoring each other’s differences, she said, allies should recognize and appreciate diversity.

“I see your blackness and I love your blackness: that is our goal,” Lutzi said.

Let black voices stand out

Kenra Whyte, a fellow ally and speaker, urged the group to preserve black voices, both symbolically and physically. A good ally, she said, allows black leaders to start the chants and lead the demonstrations.

When their voices are threatened, either by residents or law enforcement officers, Whyte said it was an ally’s job to protect the black protesters.

“Stay in the back until you are called forward,” she said. “If you hear ‘white people to the front’ or ‘allies to the front,’ step forward and link arms with other white people to form a human shield. When you are at the front, you are silent. Your job is to be a body. You are there to support only.”

Whyte also underscored the need to stay hydrated and to document the actions of law enforcement. Instead of taking selfies or images of the protest, point phones and cameras outward, capturing any wrongdoing by the authorities, she advised.

“Remain calm at all times,” she continued. “This is difficult. You will be emotional and your system will be flooded with adrenaline. Remember, this is life and death for the protesters, and I can’t make this any more clear: do not agitate.”

For the remainder of Friday’s event, speakers focused on racism, the history of America’s justice system and the need for local advocacy. Elected officials should reflect the communities they serve, authorities should be stripped of “qualified immunity” and cities should invest more in community needs, not police stations, they said.

The representative for BLM Manasota, who identified himself as “Ra,” said he hoped the community would remain focused on justice, beyond the current outrage and social media hashtags.

“I know we all are in the COVID-19 pandemic, but black people have been in a racism pandemic since we were born,” he said.

This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 4:18 PM.