Over 100 young members of the community came together on Youth Day (16 June) to show their support and stake a stand against racism and racial brutality.

Peaceful protests much like this have taken place on a global scale after the death of George Floyd in the United States and, on a local scale, after the death of Collins Khosa in Alexandra.

Organised by three members of the South African Students Movement for Black Lives Matter, the peaceful protest took place on the corner of Grayston Drive and Rivonia Road.

According to a statement by the movement, it is important for the youth to find their voice in times like these.

“We are aware of the systems of oppression that continue to exploit our people in South Africa and across the world, demand structural change. As youth we are systemically silenced because we call for society to be transformed,” read the statement.

Co-organiser Malaika Minyuku added that the group did receive some backlash leading up to the peaceful protest.

“We were cursed out by an Afrikaans man on radio and the comments section of the Morning Live segment we did was brutal but the backlash just further proved that what we’re fighting for is necessary in our country and the good outweighed the bad,” said the 16-year-old.

But that did not stop the group as they represented a picture of unity on a cold and wet morning.

“Parents came to support and participate in the cold and rain, one parent brought cookies for everyone, a second parent came and gave out gloves due to the cold and others brought extra umbrellas and signs to share with those that didn’t have,” she said.

While many could not make it out to the physical protest, the group encouraged a virtual protest.

“Just like the youth that fought in 1976, we stand against the foundational systems that are built on white supremacy and persist to this day,” added the statement.

Related article:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/277427/motorists-warned-of-eff-protest-action-on-sandton-drive/