Teens Organize Protest To Support Black Lives Matter Movement

AURORA, IL — More than a dozen people showed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and calls for police reform Monday afternoon in Aurora during a protest organized by 13-year-old Isabelle Gershon and her friend Avery Counihan.

The demonstration on South Eola Road in east Aurora attracted about 15-20 people and lots of support from drivers passing by, Isabelle said, adding protesters “only got one middle finger” in about two hours.

Isabelle said she and Avery were texting about the “devastating … loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other innocent black lives due to police brutality,” and soon after, they decided to create an opportunity for local teenagers and families to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

“This was really important to me because, being white, I just think it’s so important for us to accept our privilege. I wanted to show I’m in support of the Black Lives Matter movement,” Isabelle said, adding she wants her 3-year-old brother “to grow up in a world that’s peaceful.”

The two friends are considering organizing a protest every week “to make sure that this does not go away, because police brutality needs to end and black lives truly matter,” Isabelle said.

Though much media coverage has been devoted to looting and violence at protests throughout the past two weeks, Isabelle said she wants people to understand that the vast majority of protests have been peaceful and productive. In some cases, police were responsible for escalating peaceful protests into violent situations, she said.

“I’m not anti-police, but I just think that it’s important that we do not blame this on the people who are just fighting for their lives,” she said.

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