The gathering at Ellenwood Center pavilion on Thursday evening had one simple goal, it was for those in attendance to remember George Floyd, a black man recently killed by police in Minneapolis. There were no chants. There were very few signs. And besides a few words by organizer Julie Sanders, and a couple of others, mostly there was just respectful quiet.
As part of the Stand Together tribute, those 150-plus in attendance were invited to kneel for nine minutes in silence, the amount of time the officer in Minneapolis knelt on Floyd’s neck while handcuffed before he died. Only birds could be heard as people of different races and ages at the pavilion “stood together” by taking a knee.
After the nine minutes, and as people began to stand, 4th grader Jaidan Shauf-Dressman was invited to deliver a rousing, award-winning speech he wrote called “Where Would We Be … Where Will We Be?” that documented the many heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Due to coronavirus restrictions, he wasn’t able to present the speech at the state competition, but his words this evening were an apropos ending to the gathering.
Sanders, a third-grade teacher at Glendale Elementary, said hosting the gathering was not something she planned to do, but it turned into something she felt in her heart that she “had to do.” As a white mother of bi-racial children, Sanders has seen first-hand the effects of systemic racism. She said she hoped the event would allow those attending something they could do with their grief and dismay at the recent events.
She also hoped the event could be a springboard to help people begin talking about racial issues. She felt it was important for smaller towns like Bedford to get a dialogue started.
“It’s the small towns that need the education,” she said. “We are the ones who need to acknowledge this … and I’m not talking about the police at all.”
She said that she knows residents, including other teachers, that are desiring an opportunity to have an open dialogue about race relations in Bedford. Sanders said the recent events in America have helped to get the ball rolling, so the time is now to get started.
Born in Great Britain, Sanders came to the U.S. as a teen to be a nanny. She has been teaching for more than 20 years in Bedford, which she said gives her a unique opportunity to help bring others together.
“I’ve been here long enough that I have a presence that won’t come off as aggressive either way,” she said.
On Sunday, Sanders started a Facebook group called Bedford Together which hosted the “Stand Together” tribute Thursday. By the end of the week, the group had more than 300 members. She said she hopes the group will be a stepping stone to help “educate students, educate families and educate communities.”
Sanders said she contacted the city and the police department before planning the gathering, and that they were very supportive. City officials, including Mayor Stan Koci were present at the tribute, along with a few police officers.
Thank you for writing this article. It was heart warming to read how this has touch so many people. As a mom of a teenage African American male, everyday is uneasy. As nice and proper as my child has been brought up to be, I know there is still an opportunity that he will be confronted because of the color of his skin.
Through this situation I have seen so many cultures, ethnic groups, and nationalities come together. I can only hope that awareness spreads and banning together will move the hearts of those who lack understanding and compassion.
Thank you for your comment! I also hope the awareness continues to spread.