There has been an influx of Black Lives Matter protests within many Long Island towns in the previous months. In late June, thousands participated in a massive #BLM protests that stretched for miles through neighborhoods in Merrick, New York.
Many towns have been showing their support through other ways as well. The Village of Hempstead, the town with the highest density of black people on the island, took a symbolic approach as they renamed Main Street “Black Lives Matter Way.” The Village of Hempstead Mayor, Don Ryan, along with other local officials and community leaders were present for the unveiling.
The renamed Black Lives Matter Way sign unveiling (Photos courtesy of the Village of Hempstead)
Levittown, Mineola, and East Meadow are also among the many Long Island towns that have come together in solidarity to stand against police misconduct, brutalizations, assaults, and unjust killings of black people.
Along with protest, other mediums have been implemented to support the overall #BLM cause and what the movement stands for. A petition has been created amongst residents of Suffolk County which outlined many changes they wanted to be addressed which included the defunding of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Dr. William Spencer, one of the two black members of the Suffolk County Legislator, stated “as someone that has always been law-abiding … I’ve been called ‘boy,’ I’ve had guns drawn, I’ve had a gun held up to me, and it’s from law enforcement,” according to Dana Chiueh of the Long Island Press. He describes the feeling of being terrified when getting pulled over despite his status and therefore supports defunding the police department and reallocating taxpayer money to social service programs.
The solidarity shown amongst residents on the island in protesting a change in conjunction with that of the Black Lives Matter movement has already drawn much-needed attention to spark change. Many anticipate seeing reforms being made in the near future in regards to police brutality, excessive force, and killings of black men and women on not only Long Island, but across the country.
