Archive for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ Category
A 2020 Black Lives Matter protest is revived as a neighborhood celebration in Mantua – WHYY
As a teenager he was surprised to discover that he was unwittingly following in the footsteps of Judith Jamison, a towering figure in Black dance who danced with and later ran Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She grew up in Mantua decades before Shaheed, on the same block.
There is a rich legacy of arts in Mantua but we dont hear those stories often, if at all, Shaheed said. Its my organizations mission and reason for being to make sure that we know that and celebrate that.
One of the groups participanting in Celebrate Mantua is the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, one of the most prominent and oldest continually operating drumline and drill teams in the city. Formed in the neighborhood adjacent to Mantua, the 33 year-old percussion performance troupe was part of Iquails original Black Lives rally in the heat of the 2020 summer.
It was a humbling experience., said director Antoine Mapp. We got to see that we can come together. We can work together. We uplifted. You should have seen how many people was giving out water to each other. There were kids looking like they were about to pass out and everybody came to each others aid. Everybody was there to spread a message. It was a beautiful thing.
Four years later the event has changed its name, but to Mapp the message remains the same: to protect the fabric of the neighborhood, particularly from gentrification.
Were thankful that people are taking an interest in our community but we know what it really is: Its become a gold mine and everybody want a part of it, Mapp said. Im gonna appreciate it as its coming along, but a whole lot more work to be done. We are being taken away from our neighborhood. Yay! Its getting beautified, but theyre moving us out.
Shaheed invited performance companies from around the city, including hip hop, jazz, and modern dance troupes. His Dance Iquail! company will be offering ballet and modern classes during the event, as well as yoga and Pilates sessions.
Miles Mack playground has a football field, a basketball court, a playground with a water hose, he said. We are envisioning kids running around in the water while adults and maybe teenagers are taking classes and watching performances. Will also have bouncy castles and face painting, some cartoon avatars for the kids to engage with. Really a full-scale community arts festival.
What began four years ago as a protest directed, in part, at the depleted Philadelphia Cultural Fund budget, is now supported by that same fund as well as with state funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
With the help of community partners, Shaheed hopes Celebrate Mantua will become an annual summer event.
That is the goal, to keep it going, Shaheed said. And even figuring out ways it continues as I step away, so that it really is a community-lead event.
Celebrate Mantua happens from 11 a.m. p.m. on Saturday July 13, at the Miles Mack Playground at 36th and Aspen Street, near the Philadelphia Zoo.
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A 2020 Black Lives Matter protest is revived as a neighborhood celebration in Mantua - WHYY
Plymouth man accused of causing tens of thousands in damage to church, Pride and Black Lives Matter flags – Fall River Reporter
A Massachusetts man is facing charges after damage to a church and flags on Thursday morning.
According to Detective Lieutenant Michael Skowyra, during the early morning hours, the Kingston Police Department responded to reports of malicious damage to the First Parish Unitarian Church (223 Main St). An investigation ensued.
It is alleged that an individual illegally entered the First Parish Unitarian Church overnight as well as did significant damage to the building, ripping off and destroying handmade 200-year-old shutters, smashing antique glass, spraying a fire extinguisher throughout the building, etc. Additionally, the individual is believed to have set fire to flags which were outside the building and charred pieces of the building in the process as well. The flags which were ripped and destroyed were Pride and Black Lives Matter flags.
Overall damage estimates have not been tallied at this point, but initial estimates are in the tens of thousands.
During the investigation, a suspect was developed and as the scene was processed, police began to look into additional information about the suspect. Around that time, 43-year-old Jonathan White of Plymouth was found to return to the scene and appearing to be watching officers process the scene (common for arsonists).
A Kingston PD Detective noticed White to be the suspect and attempted to stop him. He yelled at the detective, took off in his vehicle, turned around, struck a sign, and fled. A Kingston PD Patrolman was able to find the suspect vehicle as he fled and stop him shortly down the road.
The investigation revealed various connections to White and his alleged presence at the scene overnight.
Multiple pieces of evidence were gathered and are being processed.
White was arrested and is facing several felony charges relative to the damage and burning of the church. He will be arraigned at Plymouth District Court.
Police are asking those in the 200-250 block of Main Street, or the side streets that connect to this area, review their home surveillance cameras from approximately midnight until 6:30AM this morning. Residents are asked to look for footage consistent with a white 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe which has a spotlight outside of the drivers door (similar to a police cruiser light). Additionally, any other suspicious activity would be of interest.
Kingston Fire, Plymouth County BCI, State Fire Marshals Office, MSP Crime Scene Services, MSP Bomb Squad, MSP Hate Crimes Unit and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assisted in the investigation and is still ongoing.
The potential for hate crime charges is being reviewed.
Contact Detective Lieutenant Michael Skowyra with any information at mskowyra@kpdmass.org or 781-585-0523 ext. 6662
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Plymouth man accused of causing tens of thousands in damage to church, Pride and Black Lives Matter flags - Fall River Reporter