LYNN — Former mayoral candidate Keith Lee walked 29 miles from Lawrence High School to Lynn English High School while dribbling a basketball on Tuesday to spread awareness of racial injustice and the increase in violence at schools.
He began at 11 a.m. and got to English at 6:45 p.m., walking down Route 114 to Route 1, down Lynnfield Street to Broadway, then making his way to Chestnut Street, before finally finishing at English at 50 Goodridge St.
Lee — who filed papers to run for mayor in May and cited racial profiling as his reason for withdrawing a month later — said he decided to do this walk when he saw the controversial racial makeup of the jury selected in the trial of the three men facing murder charges for the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
Lee said it hurts his heart to see one Black juror and 11 white jurors on the case against the three white defendants — Gregory McMichael, his son Travis McMichael, and their neighbor William Bryan — who chased Arbery, a Black man, when he was jogging and murdered him with a shotgun.
“They killed this man, and then they got 11 white jurors. It’s just not sitting right in my soul,” Lee said. “It really bothered me and I want to bring a positive change and awareness.”
He decided to begin his walk at Lawrence High School because of the fights and violence that have been happening there in the past month.
Lee also trains kids in basketball in Lawrence — and his son lives there -– so he has a relationship with kids, parents, and the school system; he said it made sense to include that community in this effort.
“It’s ridiculous the amount of disrespect that these kids are doing,” Lee said. “I just think they need mentors, like people like me, who have been places and are strong men that can teach these kids.”
Lee said he hopes this walk will bring awareness to the racism and violence that has been occurring in the world. He hopes that people will reach out to him and talk to him to make some changes.
“I’ve always been a leader in my own self; just being tall and playing ball, people have looked up to me so I just felt like doing something different,” Lee said. “I’m just hoping one or two people see what I’m trying to do … That’s all it takes.”
Lee said he wants to make some real change by offering guidance and support to the younger generation and fighting for equality, but said that he can’t do it alone.
“We’re not people of color, but people of culture … and we should have each other’s backs,” Lee said.
Lee said he is also hoping this walk will help bring awareness to his nephew, Brandon Langley, who is in kidney failure and needs a new kidney to survive.
To get in touch with Lee about this effort, visit www.eleetbasketball.com or email him at [email protected].
