Governor Attends Westfield Teen's George Floyd Protest

WESTFIELD, NJ — After Westfield High School junior Nala Angella Scott planned a Black Lives Matter protest at Mindowaskin Park on Sunday, nearly 3,000 people showed up, even including Gov. Phil Murphy.

Murphy posted on Facebook on Sunday evening, "Last week, Nala Angella Scott, a high school junior, wrote me a heartbreaking and powerful letter inviting me to today’s protest and describing her own experiences with racism growing up in Westfield. Today, so many New Jerseyans and I gathered with her to demand change."

He added, "I’m in awe of Nala’s courage – the same courage we’re seeing from young people across our nation. But I’m angry and devastated that we live in a nation where they have to protest for their right to live ... For Nala and for every young Black person – your life matters. We will fight to break the chains of inequality and systemic racism."

In her letter to Murphy, Scott wrote, "This protest is solely to support the lives lost to racism and give voices to those whose stories of racial injustice were silenced ... As I'm sure you know, Westfield and surrounding communities have a notorious history of racism and silencing those victims."

Some of speakers were captured on an attendee's video on Instagram Sunday.

The event, held at 2:45 p.m., was planned as a peaceful protest. It was held in the wake of the Death of George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Four Minneapolis police officers have been criminally charged in connection with Floyd's death, and protests have taken place around New Jersey and the country.

Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle was among the speakers at the event. Money was collected for the George Floyd Memorial Foundation.

Brindle said afterwards, "Thank you to 16 year old Nala Scott for organizing! Wow, just wow. Our future is bright with Nala and her peers leading the way."

She estimated that nearly 3,000 people attended.

On a Facebook page for Westfield-related discussions, one attendee posted, "Remember, the youth have always been at the forefront of every movement! We need to show up and show our support!"

Another wrote, "Listening to her story was so moving! Remember it starts at home, as simple as Nala explained it. Nothing changes if we can’t change our patterns, be accepting and tolerant."

Before the protest, Scott's mom had written, "My daughter is organizing a protest. This protest is not an anti-police protest and it is not a violent protest. ... There will be an 8 minute and 46 second moment of silence to honor George Floyd, the same amount of time he spent on the pavement until he passed away."

After the protest, Murphy took heat because he had limited outdoor gatherings in New Jersey to 25 people, and has restricted numerous businesses, yet had not stopped the large protests.

In the last week, mayors of towns with protests, including Princeton, Newark, and most recently, Hoboken, have told protest attendees that they should get coronavirus tests afterward.

Brindle noted in a statement on Sunday night, "As inspiring as today was, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how concerned I remain for the potential of an increase in COVID infections. While masks were prevalent today, if you attended please consider making an appointment to get tested, and be sure to self isolate if you begin experiencing symptoms. We can not afford to slip backwards after all the progress we’ve made."

Organizers of the event had said in advance that people should follow social distancing precautions and bring water, hand sanitizer, and snacks.

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