Celeste is Heartland Alliance’s Community Engagement Manager. The last few weeks have been her first experiences in such demonstrations, but that has not slowed down her commitment. Celeste has found herself participating with thousands in multiple demonstrations across the city, and finds the unity and cohesion among such diverse swaths of the city to be inspiring.
Why have you been compelled to act during this tumultuous time?
It is heartbreaking to think Black parents can send their children out into the world with the top education and best upbringing, and it will do almost nothing to protect them against the hate that exists. Police do not ask for your diploma and resume before they kill you. As I grow older, I see my niece and nephew, and think about my future children, and wonder how long they will remain “cute” versus a threat or simply extraneous.
The murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in conjunction with the video evidence of people falsely reporting Black people to the police motivated me to act. I have never before seen evidence of such a hateful person (referring to the Central Park video of Amy Cooper making a false police report on bird-watcher, Christian Cooper). I watched that video thinking that if the police did come, it could have resulted in the end of the man’s life.
What do you hope comes from this activism?
Unity, which is already in progress. I have seen so many non-Black people support this issue at every protest I have been to in Chicago. I find that incredibly inspiring. Of course, it is an easy decision to fight for yourself, but when other people take notice and fight for an issue that has little effect on their lives, that is when change starts.
Do you have any tips or something you would like to say to others thinking about acting?
Don’t lose the momentum. Keep asking difficult questions and having hard conversations, but most importantly, listen. Do your research and ACT.
