“Welcome to America, the land of the free. But America is not living up to that name. America, please hear our cries, we want to live,” Gabrielle Hart, Black Lives Matter activist and Dunkirk High School senior, said.

On Saturday, a demonstration was held in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in Dunkirk, including a march from the pier to City Hall, where many speakers were heard.

Hart, Jericha Petrella and Yuribeth Castro were the organizers of the event, which had a large turnout. The event was supported by the Dunkirk city Mayor, Wilfred Rosas, Police Chief, David Ortolano, and other members of the Common Council and county.

The rally kicked off at the pier, with a prayer spoken. “We pray for everyone to acknowledge that all races matter, but black lives do matter. And we pray that you help people to understand that we are men and women too.”

The march then commenced, where men, women, children, all colors, all races, all abilities walked on Central Avenue until they reached City Hall, chanting “Black lives matter!” and “BLM” the whole way.

Rosas began the speeches, applauding the police department, thanking the three seniors for organizing the protest, and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

“In our department we have been very fortunate to have leadership that understands training,” Rosas said. “I just want everyone to know that I applaud our police department for understanding.”

Others followed, including Ortolano. “I know that this community is in very good hands and we will all continue working together for peace and quality of life in this community for many years to come,” Ortolano said.

Walter Rutland then spoke passionately speaking of the continued injustices and inequalities that black people face every day. “We have to realize that we have the same blood in our veins as anybody white, black, all colors,” he said. “The most powerful weapon in the world is love. … We can put a man on the moon, yet we are ignorant in trying to stop racism.”

County Executive PJ Wendel said a few words at the rally as well, “We may have struggles, we may have frustration, but we come together for a common purpose, to try and understand each one of us.”

“This is wonderful,” city attorney Richard Morrisroe said. “Here’s the thing though: this a moment in time. The question is what do we do with this moment? This moment has happened before, many times. What do we do from here?”

Morrisroe spoke passionately about educating people, learning to be uncomfortable, and looking in the mirror and recognizing one’s own biases. “If we’re going to make change, we’ve got to care beyond this moment in time.” Morrisroe then read off a handful of names of the victims of racism as the crowd repeated them.

An unscheduled speaker also made an appearance, focusing on the injustices and inequalities that black people face on a daily basis. “People’s views will never be the same, but I will keep on saying what I have to say,” Tesla Texidor said. “There are too many people who still don’t grasp the fact that we are here to let you understand that black lives are just as equal as everybody else.”

The organizers of the protest, Hart, Petrella and Castro also gave small speeches, thanking the community for coming together and encouraging people to continue the support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Our generation must make these changes so that our children can go for a jog in a neighborhood, can read a book in a car, can walk with a bag of candy without fearing for their lives,” Petrella said. “Let this be the end to the centuries of suffering that the black community has endured so that our future generations don’t have to face these adversaries.”

Hart gave an especially moving speech during the rally, which had the crown yelling back in agreement and unity. “Educate yourselves, educate others. Call out racist friends, call out racist family. Tell them, help them understand that we are all created equal,” Hart said. “To all the adults here … Is this the world you want us to grow up in? Your children, your grandchildren? Do you want to leave this world to us? Because I don’t want to live in this world, not like this.”

Other speeches were made by Walter Robertson and Loretta Slaton Torain. “What more has to happen in this country to make a change? I can’t even send my kid to the store for some candy and a drink and trust that he’s going to come back home alive,” she said. “Let me tell you how I feel. I will tell you, I have walked in this black skin a long time, so let me tell you.”

“Enough is enough. It’s time for change and this is the breaking point where we can not accept how black people are treated,” said Hart. “Black lives matter today and they mattered yesterday. Black lives matter tomorrow and they’ll matter forever.”