Activists race for racial justice
and gun violence awareness
in Washington Square Park
BY DEAN MOSES
Activists and an Olympian
raced for justice on
Sunday in Manhattan to
honor those lost to gun violence
amid Black History Month.
Black Lives Matter protests
slingshotted into the public
consciousness over the course
of summer 2020 after the deaths
of Black men and women at the
hands of law enforcement, most
publicized of whom being George
Floyd. But organized marches
calling for equal rights are nothing
new, they date back to the
early 20th century.
Founder of Running in Protest,
Coffey (who publicly goes by his
last name only), is striving to
continue the legacy paved by
civil rights leaders who came
before him while also putting a
new, healthy spin on the call for
justice.
Well over 100 individuals
gathered beside the fountain in
Washington Square Park on Feb.
21. Upon fi rst glance, pedestrians
would be forgiven for believing
they had stumbled onto the site of
a marathon with runners decked
out in sports gear and signs fastened
to their backs.
Dressed mostly in white, this
large group was preparing to
jog through the streets of Lower
Manhattan in an attempt to raise
awareness of the deaths of the
iconic Malcolm X and Ahmaud
Arbery, both of whom perished
due to gun violence. In place of
identifying numbers, each participant
exhibited Arbery’s named
taped to their body.
This form of protesting has
Power Malu discusses the run. PHOTOS BY DEAN MOSES
been taking place every month
since June of 2020 with each run
advocating for a different cause,
but for many in attendance this
makeshift, Black History Month
marathon held a special place in
their hearts.
“We have been going through
this for 400 and something years,
so regardless of what happened to
Malcolm X and what happened
to Mr. Arbery in 2020, as I speak
today in 2021 it is still the exact
same thing that is going against
our people and that is something
we have to stop,” Coffey said.
The concept behind Running
in Protest is to unify like-minded
health advocates and activists to
engage in a positive exercise to
call for positive changes — and
the organization has a famous fan.
Olympic medalist Race Imboden
joined the run Sunday
morning, praising the unique
way in which they call to action.
Already a staunch Black Lives
Matter supporter, Imboden took a
knee at the Pan American Games
and participated in protests in Los
Angeles. However, he learned
about Running in Protest after
Sports Illustrated writer Chris
Chavez informed him about the
group’s work.
“Anytime people can combine
things that make them happy,
keep them healthy, form community–
you know it is a really
diffi cult time right now for mental
health. Suicides are 60% of gun
violence deaths and this kind of
community, and this kind of outreach
for people to be able to talk
Coffey, founder of Running in
Protest, speaks before the run
in Washington Square Park.
Olympic medalist Race Imboden joined the run Sunday morning.
and come together to talk and be
healthy is a win,” Imboden said.
The runners congregated in the
shadow of the Washington Square
Arch where they discussed gun
violence statistics and their continued
social justice work before
setting off. Black History month
was a big talking point, both
celebrating the lineage of black
lives in America and the future
landmarks yet to be made.
NYC Parks Commissioner
Mitchell Silver joined both the
run and the discussion.
Beginning by acknowledging
that the area beneath his feet once
belonged to Native American
people, he went on to speak of
the efforts he has been making to
remake sections of New York City
parks after those lost too soon.
“We want to change the landscape
to refl ect the experiences of
Black Americans,” Silver began.
“We have to tell these stories so
people know we matter. We are
going to another round that we
are going to name on Juneteenth
of this year. You can go to the
park’s website and you can recommend
a person that you believe
should be recognized.”
The run got underway at 11
a.m. and culminated at the Vegan
Community Fridge outside Overthrow
Boxing Club on 9 Bleecker
Street.
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver talked
on the importance of remembering history.
Schneps Media February 25, 2021 13