LYNN — As social justice rallies and peaceful protests continue across the country in the wake of a rash of police brutality cases over the past month, the Lynn football community came together over the weekend to make its collective voice heard. Players from all five Lynn high schools — Classical, English, Tech, KIPP and St. Mary’s — took part in a walking rally that traveled from the campus at English all the way to Manning Field and spoke about their experiences in the community as young men.
“It was a great opportunity for all of us to come together as one big family and take part in something that’s bigger than ourselves,” said Orlando Concepcion, a rising senior offensive and defensive lineman at Classical. “It just felt so good to be out there with everyone and hearing people speak about their lives. It brought us all closer together.”
“The world’s not in the greatest place right now, and something has to be done for the youth in this country,” said Tech’s Jermanny Guerrero, a rising senior defensive end. “When we all got together and took part in the rally, we were all family. It was the first time I was ever a part of something like that and I loved it.”
Some athletes, like Guerrero, got up in front of the crowd and spoke about his experiences living in the city as a young man.
“It’s not easy to get up there and talk in front of people like that,” Guerrero said. “In your head you think it’s easy, but once you get up there it’s totally different. I actually wrote out a speech the day before, but when it was my turn to speak I just decided to speak from the heart.
“Something has to change,” Guerrero added. “And it’s up to us as the younger generation to start making change.”
Some athletes, like English rising senior receiver/defensive back Cam Isbel, loved the experience of coming together with people he’s usually competing against.
“On the field, we’re always going at it,” said Isbel. “So it was a really good experience to have us all come together and take part in something as a unit.”
“Lynn sports is so competitive, usually we’re all out to beat each other and we’re all sucked up in the rivalries,” said Kenneth Beato, a rising senior offensive and defensive lineman at KIPP. “We have lots of battles on the field, but with this walk we had an opportunity to be together and show our humanity. It was a chance to connect with my brothers from Lynn, because the reality is that we’re all young men of color growing up in the same city.”
The Lynn football coaches took part in the march as well but remained in the background to allow the players to take center stage. They want to thank the Lynn Police Department for the escort from English to Manning Field and for donating masks for the event, and they want to thank the Lynn Fire Department for their donation of masks as well.
