Woburn Teen Leads Hundreds In Black Lives Matter Rally

WOBURN, MA — Hundreds rallied in Woburn Thursday afternoon at a protest in honor of George Floyd organized by a local high school senior.

Brooklyn Manna, 18, began organizing the protest after Floyd's death in the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25. She overcame opposition from the mayor, who initially told her she would have to delay the protest in order to get a permit, and from town residents who publicly worried that the protest would turn violent.

"I'm so happy that everyone came with the same idea, to have a peaceful protest," Manna said after the event. "We proved everyone wrong."

Hundreds gathered at 3 p.m. at Woburn Memorial High School. Protesters came from around the area, including many of Manna's fellow students, other Woburn residents and those from neighboring towns. Some said they'd been in Boston for protests every day, while others came to Woburn because they did not feel comfortable joining the crowds in Boston.

Attendees said they wanted to speak up in their own area.

"Since we're in such a gated community, I thought this was the best way to use our voices," said an attendee from Burlington. Both communities are over three-quarters white.

"This is basically a white community," said Gervin Merlain, a Woburn High senior. "I have to work twice as hard just to make friends."

"We saw the support from the community," said Mark Beliard, another Woburn High senior. "If they're going to support us, we have got to be out here."

Beliard and Merlain had also been to protests in Boston, they said.

Manna asked the attendees, many of them white, to feel the weight of police violence as heavily as she does.

"Every time you think about why you’re here, you should want to cry like I do," she told them crowd before leading the walk to Woburn City Hall.

As they walked down Montvale Avenue, protesters chanted George Floyd's name and that of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by Louisville Police in March. A minimal police presence marked the route.

Manna and fellow high school students also led chants of “No justice, no peace,” “Black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe.” Residents waved to the demonstrators as they passed, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Once at Woburn City Hall, Manna told her story, as a black child adopted by white parents. While she grew up fortunate, she explained, her skin color still marks her.

"Racial discrimination is exposed to the majority of people of color," Manna said. "Personally, I began to experience it at a young age and I have ever since."

Her privilege, she said, only goes so far: "None of that matters once a Caucasian person and I leave the borders of Woburn."

Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin, who had initially told Manna she'd have to postpone her protest, spoke as well. He praised Manna's graduating high school class and encouraged them to vote and remain involved in the future.

Two members of the High School's staff, Assistant Principal Steve Martin and teacher Amy Cardoso — also spoke, followed by a series of current and former students at the school, as well as Manna's family members.

“No more mourning mothers, no more wailing mothers who have lost their children to racial violence. Black lives matter. My girls’ lives matter,” Brooklyn's mother Karen Manna said.

"Not all cops are bad, but they chose that life," said Dylan Lawrence. "Those innocent black men and women, they didn't choose to get killed that day. They didn't choose any of that"

Speakers read poems about police brutality and called for attendees to get more involved: to go to more rallies, to talk to their friends and family about racism and to donate.

One speaker, a Woburn High graduate named Vicky, asked the crowd to hold their fists up for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time now-former Minneapolis officer Derk Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck. The crowd stood in silence, arms in the air.

"Are your shoulders sore from holding your arms up for that long?" she asked. "Imagine what it felt like for George Floyd to not breathe for that long."

Organizers passed out water bottles to protesters standing in 80 degree heat.

After the speeches, Manna led the crowd back to the high school, where an ice cream truck arrived soon after the demonstrators.

Asked what she wanted to see from local leaders, Manna said, "I would like them not to put them in a position where people question if they're against racism. I think they did that today."

It was Manna's first ever protest, she said.

"That's our next Rosa Parks," someone called out as she left to clean up in front of City Hall.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.