Jessie Ansari, Nederland. Mountain Forum for Peace (MFP) is well versed in peaceful protest, though this past weekend’s protest was the first to be held during a global pandemic. The non-profit group formed in Nederland in the mid-80s, during a time when Denver and Boulder area people were joining together to demonstrate against the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. Since then, MFP has sought ways to promote peace and justice in many forms, including environmental, social and economic. 

Last week, a video of the brutal arrest on May 25, 2020, in Minnesota shocked the country. African American George Floyd was arrested for potentially using a counterfeit twenty dollar bill. While handcuffed and lying face down on the street a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, despite Floyd losing consciousness around the six minute mark. 

In the aftermath of Floyds death, people across the US and the world began spontaneous demonstrations in support of Black Lives, a movement for racial justice. 

Here in Nederland on Saturday morning, 700 miles away from Minneapolis, nationwide protests were beginning, and Mountain Forum for Peace received a message from Town Administrator Karen Gerrity asking if MFP was planning a protest. Our organization holds two annual vigils and occasional protests at the Mountain Forum for Peace Sculpture Garden during times of urgent peace and justice matters. Once I realized we had the full support of the Town of Nederland and the local police departments, I moved quickly to organize. 

The decision to hold a peaceful protest for the Black Lives Matter movement seemed obvious to MFP, as many of our members, other local non-profits and Nederland area residents were looking for a local way to show our community’s solidarity in the cause of ending systemic racism. I decided a street-chalking and sign-making event followed by a peaceful march would be appropriate and family-friendly. TEENs, Inc. graciously offered their parking lot as a meeting location and the Town of Nederland and Nederland Police Department helped to coordinate a safe, legal protest including physical distancing guidelines. 

People showed up at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, to chalk their outline on the concrete to represent lives lost to excessive police force and brought cardboard boxes to make signs. A march began just before noon, passing the post office and moving down the highway to the peace garden, where protestors fanned out with their signs. Music played and children splashed in puddles left by recent rain. Passing cars honked their approval and countless peace signs were exchanged. Sergeant Fine-Loven boosted spirits with a blast of her patrol car siren. Local photographer Becca Wissman beautifully documented the protest. The demonstration was over before 1 p.m., but in that short time, friends and connections were made. The collective energy of being around caring and compassionate souls who also dream of a more just world energized those present and uplifted spirits during these difficult times.  

While much of the media is focused on the riots and violence that have sometimes accompanied these racial justice protests, most stories have missed the countless peaceful mass-protests that took place over the weekend in places like Illinois, Michigan, California, Ohio, Florida, Washington and Tennessee. 

This is a momentous moment in national and local history. Diverse people of all backgrounds and ethnicities are uniting and gathering in person to say, “enough is enough.” Nederland residents are demonstrating their awareness and actively participating in the movement. I couldn’t be prouder. I would like my beautiful mixed-race daughter to grow up in a world where people of color are no longer marginalized. 

Now is the right time for all of us to address how racism shows up in our lives and hold ourselves and each other accountable. It is always the right time to listen to other perspectives, show compassion and respect. 

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.” 

Thank you Nederland, from all of us at Mountain Forum for Peace.

(Originally published in the June 4, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)