LYNN — Another protest against police brutality and systemic racism is planned for this Saturday afternoon.
The protest, organized by community activists Neil T. Whittredge and Anthony Coleman, will begin in the Manning Field parking lot at noon and conclude at Wyoma Square.
People will gather until 12:30 p.m. when the speaking portion is scheduled to begin. Following the speeches, protesters will march toward and occupy Wyoma Square for eight minutes and 46 seconds in reflection of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.
“During this time, we will share our vision for the future — a future where the police officers of Lynn work with and listen to law-abiding citizens, where situations are defused instead of escalated, where people can be arrested without fear of bodily harm, where police are officers of the court, not self-appointed judge, and jury,” said Whittredge.
“In keeping with our democratic ideals, attendees will be asked to join in signing a petition requesting a formal public hearing to discuss the future of policing in the City of Lynn.”
Tentative speakers at Manning Field include Victor White, one of the three Black men who alleges he was unlawfully arrested by Lynn Police on June 15; a person who was present for an altercation involving a retired Lynn Police officer last month; and Darrell Murkison, an activist involved with the Essex County Community Organization, according to Whittredge.
Following the reflection at Wyoma Square, organizers will read from a petition, which outlines their demands of the Lynn Police Department. Whittredge said their plan is to submit the petition to the city in order to push for a public hearing.
Those demands include the formation of an independent oversight committee under the Lynn Human Rights Commission, which Coleman noted only includes appointees from Mayor Thomas M. McGee; outlawing chokeholds and strangleholds; and requiring body cameras for additional oversight for police.
That civilian review board, or oversight committee, would be involved in reviewing cases involving alleged police misconduct and unlawful arrests, Whittredge said.
Whittredge said he decided to get involved with the organizing protests around racial injustice after hearing his co-organizer, Coleman, speak.
He began showing up at the Lynn Common every evening to hear Coleman talk about the cause and from there, their relationship began to evolve to the point where they were holding “little protests” in different city neighborhoods. Sometimes, a few people would join them, but other times it was just them, Whittredge said.
It remains to be seen whether demonstrations such as Saturday’s will lead to change, but Coleman said it’s important to keep the dialogue going.
“This is just a platform to further the conversation and bring about awareness,” he said.
