More than 75 people gathered on the lawn of town hall holding powerful signs that read "Say Their Names” and "I Can’t Breathe.” The rally was organized by the Springfield Unity Project, a non-profit grassroots organization committed toprom oting positive change through education, to combat bias and social injustice, and to foster deeper and more meaningful understanding among diverse communities.

Several speakers including Jonathan Dayton High School sophomores Morghan Blair, Chidumebi Iherobiem and Esther Dewar who founded the first-ever Black Student Union powerfully recounted their personal experiences demanding systematic changes and encouraging everyone to help continue the fight for social justice.

"Being Black is not a crime. Being your race and your nationality and being proud of it is not a crime," said Morghan Blair.

Esther Dewar called on the schools to have better representation in its administration and on the board of education, particularly given the district's diverse student population. "This is why we created the Black Student Union to show others that we are here, that we are present and that we are not going anywhere," she said. "We want to educate everyone in Springfield as to why we as Black students and Black people are equal to others."

Sophomore Alex Jean-Baptiste called on leaders to make policy changes and urged the crowd to guard against complacency. He urged adults to educate themselves and for young people to have tough conversations with their parents. "If you don’t seek out the problem that you don’t see directly, we as human beings convince ourselves that there is no problem," he said. 

Anderson Blair, a 12-year resident of town who emceed the speaker portion of the rally said, "Have my back. "Make me feel safe. Come to my defense. Even if you don’t agree with me, understand where I’m coming from, let me know that I matter. Because I do."

Say It Loud: Black Lives Matter in Springfield.