A Civil Saturday

June 25, 2020

The 70-year-old building once known as the Nabisco factory is now an office building on Bakery Square. Although it no longer makes Ritz crackers for anyone, it is still a useful building. Its grounds were especially needed today. A crowd of people gathered in 80-degree weather with the sun shining and the sky above was bright blue with fluffy clouds. Clearly a day for celebrating something – and we were in a way. We were remembering a black man named George Floyd who had been slain two weeks before.

 Men, women and few children, white and Black, wore shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes and masks. This was my first march, but it was more like a sit-in or a mini march. We were friends, colleagues, students, bicyclists, both old, young and middle years.

 The march was being held in East Liberty, once a predominately Black neighborhood. As people left  "East Lib", it became  more of a business district with lots of shops, colorful stores, and beautiful colored lights on the buildings at night. Even the Black grandmothers who cooked and cleaned remember walking along its hot pavement in the summer.

 When we the marchers first walked into the large parking lot area, we saw a small crowd standing and listening to the first chanter, saying "Black Lives Matter - Here!". My friends and I moved forward slowly. I saw free water and pizza on the side tables. I started to have some, but I had already eaten lunch. More chants from the crowd were heard "No Justice, No Peace". And, yes, there was a police motorcade riding by just to ensure the peace.

We walked past tall, modern glass buildings. Those long brownish yellow boards were awaiting a need to be nailed and put over store doors and broken windows, if any. But was it because of a slow economy, few sales or because of fear of an angry outburst from the crowd? There had been stories of rioting and looting in other cities.  Yet, this crowd gathered peacefully.

If we spoke of peace, then there would be no angry outbursts. It was a reminder of the old Civil Rights marches when we sang We Shall Overcome in the 1960's. Today they chanted "No Peace, No Police!” The mystery word was police. I could not tell at first which of the two words they were saying. So, we began to unravel why we were here.

In Minneapolis, MN, a black man named George Floyd was killed by a policeman during an arrest over a fake $20 bill on Memorial Day. It sparked an outpouring of marches across the nation. Fifty years ago, Blacks and whites marched together against racism and racial discrimination. Today I saw a white female holding a handwritten cardboard sign featuring a red, black and green flag. Black people still remember it.

Then Blacks and whites marched arms-locked-in-arms together. Today our white brothers and sisters proved they still care as they chanted "Black Lives Matter." Today we all proved that even amid a Covid-19 scare that we don't forget because justice and peace beckon us.

But Black men where were more of you? I'm sure George Floyd would have wanted to know. And Black women, where were you? Please give me a reasonable excuse! Thank you!

 It seems that a lot of Black people were curiously missing today. Never let it be said by our people that our white brethren and sisters do not care because Pittsburgh does! Black lives do matter to them.

I nearly cried! As everyone walked on, we finally reached our destination for the sit-in spot. I saw handwritten cardboard signs which gave messages of peace, hope, and caring. Those are the things of humanity. I saw a “I can’t breathe” sign which is also a saying of the Coronavirus epidemic. As we all sat on the grass in the open air, every person had on a mask which covered their mouths and noses. The water station women wore blue gloves and passed out bottles of water to  thirsty protestors.

There was a moment of silence. There were speakers who spoke about the whole sad occurrence. One woman said she had never been a victim of violence. Then a chant went up "Hands Up, Don’t Shoot”.

The brethren of Blacks and whites chanted against racism. I feel that bad things can happen - but time moves forward. Most people do trust and rely on their police. We always think of them as getting the bad guys. We sleep a little better at night knowing and believing our streets are safe. We would never expect a serious or fatal encounter with the police.

The large crowd applauded the speakers. We could not see everything that was going on at the stage nor could we hear everything because a helicopter circled overhead. I saw a peace sign, reminiscent of the marches and protests of the 1960's. We still love peace. Other names of the slain appeared on cardboard signs: Breanna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice. There was more chanting.

If you remember hearing the Black and white people of the 1960’s marching and singing We Shall Overcome then hear the people today singing the Freedom Riders Song, you would be inspired again.

 What side are you on my people?"

What side are you on?

We will fight both day and night Until we get it right!

Black Lives Matter!

 When you think about it, all lives do. A parking sign's arrows are pointing left, right or go straight. Which way will we go? Police are necessary for law and order, and of course, people expect good treatment from them. Some signs said, "We Shut Them Down!" What we really we can do is say: "Let's sit down!" and "Let's talk!"

 I also saw a sign that said KING, the letters were written horizontally, a gentle reminder of non-violent marches. We have come a long way, Dr. Martin Luther King, your dreams took us far. We are sitting on the grass, on the ground, black and white people together, quietly waiting, listening, just like you wanted.

 And so George Floyd, even though you were unknown before that day, your passing has inspired many. You did not die in vain.

- Colette Funches

Colette Funches is a founding member of Tube City Writers. She lives in McKeesport and remembers the Civil Rights era. She is a substitute teacher for the Pittsburgh Public Schools and a dedicated volunteer for the Oasis Tutoring Program. Colette is also a member of the Mon Yough Choral of White Oak.