LOCAL

'Brighton Allies for Racial Justice' event brings large, peaceful crowd to Brighton amphitheater

Kayla Daugherty
Livingston Daily

Mary Kaven-Barron of Howell carried a sign reading “All mothers were summoned when George Floyd called out for his mama.”

She was among several hundred people who gathered in the blazing sun Saturday afternoon at the Brighton amphitheater on the Mill Pond for the Brighton Allies for Racial Justice rally. Many carried signs such as “Black lives matter,” and “White silence=complicity.”

“I believe in racial justice,” Kaven-Barron said. “I think all mothers were brought to tears” by Floyd’s comments while being held down by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The primarily white crowd of all ages, including families with children sitting on blankets, listened intently to speakers who implored members of the Brighton community to become allies for racial justice.

Mary Kaven-Barron of Howell with her sign of support at the Brighton Allies for Racial Justice rally on Saturday, June 6, 2020.

"It is not a protest, it is not a march, it is an assembly," said Jessica Garcia, who organized the event.

Garcia, who works as the diversity, equity, and inclusion manager at the University of Michigan and who lives in Brighton, said the event is not a Black Lives Matter event but a parallel offering for "white allies for racial justice."

Event organizer Jessica Garcia speaks to open the event’s discussion of white allyship for people of color Saturday, June 6 at the Brighton Mill Pond.

As the first speaker of the event, Garcia said she had reached out to black members of the Brighton area for their experiences in the community.

“It’s critical that we not ask people of color to educate us,” she told the crowd. “They are exhausted and trying to survive.”

Over the last several weeks, Garcia has organized events for the university and students but decided to bring her work to Brighton, where she lives. 

"It is really important that people see the scope of the ways people care," she said before the event. "Brighton is not racially diverse but we are diverse in other ways."

Whitmore Lake resident Cassandra Cohen listens to speakers talk about white privilege and racial justice Saturday, June 6 at the Brighton Mill Pond.

More:People gather at historic Howell courthouse, some to protest, others to protect memorial

Garcia said she did not intend to organize a community event, but, after posting a comment on a Brighton community Facebook page, one thing led to another after people started thanking her. 

Speakers at Saturday's event included Pamela McConeghy, president of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, Rev. Julie Brock, of Community Unitarian Universalists church in Brighton, Holly Ward Lamb of the Livingston Diversity Council and Garcia. 

"I appreciate working for a chamber that appreciates racial justice," McConeghy told the crowd. 

The assembly follows a gathering in front of the historic Howell courthouse Thursday, with some present protesting police brutality and others who said they were there to protect the courthouse and nearby downtown areas.

The events are among hundreds across the country in response to the death of Floyd, a black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis. The now-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, pinned Floyd's neck to the ground with his knee for more than eight minutes. 

Support by police, community

Garcia said the first call she made when organizing the event was to Brighton Police Chief Rob Bradford. 

"I told him, "This is what is happening... this is what I am inclined to do. If I build it people will come. Is this something Brighton can protect?'" she said. 

She said Bradford was supportive from the start.

"We are still working out some of the logistics but plan to help facilitate and participate in any we can," Bradford said in an email Wednesday. 

The response from the community has been primarily positive Garcia said, but said she took care to disable comments on the Facebook event to ensure conversations would not evolve poorly. 

Livingston Diversity Council Holly Ward Lamb speaks during an event described as Brighton Allies for Racial Justice Saturday, June 6 at the Brighton Mill Pond.

"We expect this to be a very civil and welcoming space," she said ahead of the event.

Her hope for the mood of event appeared to come true as speakers comments were met with applause and attendees sang along with Brock to the words "There is more love somewhere."

Participants are asked to wear a facemask, and practice social distancing of 6' with their families.

Contact Kayla Daugherty at 517-552-2848 or kdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KayDaugherty92. Barb Modrack contributed to this report.