Young protesters talk importance
of being involved
A video of the moment has gone viral on Twitter, with almost 15 million views, and it’s part of the reason why Caschetta, 20, of Lowell, wanted to help organize another protest.
“Going to the Crown Point protest and seeing the people with the assault rifles, it kind of opened my eyes to be like, you know what, this is the moment to do it, you’re not going to have another chance to bring change in such an open light,” Caschetta said. “I came home and I was like, I have to try it with Lowell.”
So, Caschetta said he planned a protest for later that week with Keyra Horst-Moore, 18, of Lowell, to reach out in his hometown.
As protests continue throughout the region and the world for the Black Lives Matter movement, one aspect of them can be seen by those viewing videos, driving past or stopping by: a lot of the people involved are young.
Many of those seen yelling phrases into megaphones and giving speeches to large crowds are overwhelmingly young, most looking to be in their late teens or early 20s.
Some, like Justyce Reed, of Schererville, are only 16, but know the importance of getting out there and standing up for their beliefs.
Reed said she attended her very first protest this year with her parents — a peaceful and inspiring Black Lives Matter protest in Chicago.
“It was my first protest, so I didn’t really know what to expect,” Reed said. “Seeing all of the people coming together wanting the same thing … everyone coming for the same cause, it was kind of an eye opener for me.”
Dayna Reed, Justyce’s mother, said it was important for her and her husband to take Justyce to a protest because it showed her that she needs to do more than just talk about issues — she needs to be part of a solution. She said it helped show Justyce the importance of putting action to her words.
“It’s important for them to be involved because it’s going to affect them years after we’re gone,” Dayna said. “The way their voice is heard now, and the way they participate in these types of issues, gives them the confidence to continue it in the years to come … It helps them understand that their voice is important, and not to muffle their voices, but to allow their voices to be heard even at this young age.”
Justyce and Dayna said they hope to go to more Black Lives Matter protests, and Justyce said she believes going, no matter what age, helps to make a difference.
“We have been silenced for so many years, and I think just having everyone come and be involved is actually making a change,” Justyce said. “It’s been going on for centuries, and just having everyone be a part of this movement is showing people — and showing the President, showing the government — that we actually really want change.”
Protesting at a young age is important, Caschetta said, because as the years go on, young protesters are carving the way for the rest of their lives, and the lives of their children.
“I think people need to be informed, not just on this topic, but for all,” Caschetta said. “It’s very, very important for the younger generation to know, because this is our lives … it’s up to us, we are the future.”
Alanna Marie Mossell, 27, of Portage, has been to a plethora of protests, and said she thinks younger generations jumping into protests helps give them a different perspective.
“Going to a rally (at a young age), as long as it’s safe, is kind of the most exciting thing, because kids can run around in the street and they can yell and they can talk to people and listen to things that they wouldn’t normally hear if they were watching Cartoon Network,” Mossell said.
As Black Lives Matter protests continue, and other protests are yet to come, one thing is certain, Caschetta said. The younger generation needs to be involved.
“It’s important for the younger generation to understand because this is our world, this is what we’re going to be living, what we’re going to be taking over,” Caschetta said. “You have to be in the now before it’s too late, before you can’t change it, before you’re in the same boat that most of the older generations are in now.”
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
