From atop a flagpole in South Carolina this weekend, Bree Newsome got our attention.
Early on Saturday morning, the activist and filmmaker scaled a metal rod at the state house to remove the Confederate Flag that has for too long flown there. Driven to act (and to acrobatics) in the aftermath of the Charleston massacre that killed nine, Newsome defied police commands to back down and was arrested on the spot.
But while only Newsome and activist James Ian Tyrson were charged for what law enforcement has called the defacement of a monument, they are not alone in this fight. On social media, supporters rushed to cheer Newsome, applauding her daring and will and swiftly raising over $115,000 on Indiegogo to cover her bail and legal fees. (Newsome declined the cash, asking that the money go towards the victims of the massacre, instead.)
Now released, Newsome spoke out on Monday in a statement to Blue Nation Review in which she declared that "now is the time for true courage."
Of "the emblem of the confederacy, the stars and bars," Newsome wrote: "It's the banner of racial intimidation and fear whose popularity experiences an uptick whenever black Americans appear to be making gains economically and politically in this country. It's a reminder how, for centuries, the oppressive status quo has been undergirded by white supremacist violence with the tacit approval of too many political leaders."
"I know my history and my heritage," Newsome continued. "The southern heritage I embrace is the legacy of a people unbowed by racial oppression. It includes towering figures of the Civil Rights Movement like Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King, Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and Ella Baker. It includes the many people who rarely make the history books but without whom there is no movement. It includes pillars of the community like Rev. Clementa Pinckney and Emmanuel AME Church."
The entire statement is well worth reading. But the call to action with which she ends is essential material:
"It is important to remember that our struggle doesn't end when the flag comes down. The Confederacy is a southern thing, but white supremacy is not. Our generation has taken up the banner to fight battles many thought were won long ago. We must fight with all vigor now so that our grandchildren aren't still fighting these battles in another 50 years. Black Lives Matter. This is non-negotiable.
I encourage everyone to understand the history, recognise the problems of the present, and take action to show the world that the status quo is not acceptable. The last few days have confirmed to me that people understand the importance of action and are ready to take such action. Whether the topic is trending nationally or it's an issue affecting our local communities, those of us who are conscious must do what is right in this moment. And we must do it without fear. New eras require new models of leadership. This is a multi-leader movement. I believe that. I stand by that. I am because we are. I am one of many."
From the editors of ELLE.com
