First on BLM Week at the OP we are in conversation with one of the Organisers of the BLM Protest in Truro, Cornwall on the 15th of Jue 2020. Ellice Marsh.
Keep reading to find out more about the Day off the Protest+ how it effected her community…
Q1: What is your name, age and where are you from?
A: Ellice Marsh//Redruth, Cornwall//19 (18 at the time of the protest).
Q2: What made you want to organise the BLM protest in your community?
A: I was+am so tired by the amount of racism and hatred in Cornwall, and I wanted to let the black people in the community know that there are lots of us that care and will stand up for them!
Q3: What was the most difficult aspect of organising the protest?
A: The hardest part was probably ensuring that everything was safe and social distanced as COVID-19 is obviously still a huge issue, but we managed to keep everyone 2m apart and still have over 1500 people attend!
Q4: What was the most rewarding moment?
A: The most rewarding moments were just letting black people in the community speak and share their experiences and witness their pain and raw emotion, and to hear their thanks for organising the protest, I really felt like I was helping people!
Q5: Has anything come from the protest/ had a lasting effect on your community?
A: More people in the community have shared their experiences with racism and exposed how much it happens in Cornwall, people have also contacted local schools etc and spoke to them about educating kids on the true history of the British empire and racism in Britain!
Q6: Do you have any tips for others wanting to organise their own BLM ( or other) Protest?
A: In terms of tips for organising, make sure there’s a small team of you as it’s a lot of work on your own, consider risk assessments and every possibility or things that could go wrong to make sure everyone is as safe as possible, and just gaining as much support as possible from local MP’s and people in positions of power, also contacting and cooperating with local news stations too!
For example I did an interview for bbc radio Cornwall, and for ITV westcountry (and was actually on tv which was crazy) but we got loads of great coverage and proved how much people care about Black lives matter!
To read another article about the event you can visit ‘Cornwall Live’ ! And also find other local BLM Protest on Facebook Events! OR ORGANISE YOUR OWN!
-THANKS FOR READING-
The Orange Peel 