Ieshia Evans, the woman captured in the iconic photograph during the protests in Baton Rouge last weekend, has released a statement. She traveled to Louisiana with Young Minds Can, a civil rights organization, along with dozens of other concerned citizens.
“When the police pushed everyone off the street, I felt like they were pushing us to the side to silence our voices and diminish our presence,” Ms. Evans says, “They were once again leveraging their strength to leave us powerless. As Africans in America we’re tired of protesting that our lives matter, it’s time we stop begging for justice and take a stance for our people. It’s time for us to be fearless and take our power back.”
Young Minds Can be organized a busload of nearly 30 people from Atlanta to travel to Baton Rouge, at the invitation of the New Black Panther Party of Self Defense. The group visited the Triple S convenience store where Alton Sterling was killed before demanding justice outside the police station.
Jay Morrison, the founder of YMC, remarked, “It’s tough being a businessman and activist because it’s two totally different worlds and energies. I debated if I should organize this YMC trip to Baton Rouge and actually prayed about it for days. I’m glad I did because history was made that day. Although she didn’t intend to, Queen Ieshia had a ‘Rosa Parks moment’ caught on camera that has undoubtedly inspired a generation and made us all proud as African people in America. We’ve been powerless for too long under America’s watch, it’s time we recognize our independent strength and begin to take our power back.”
