‘I’m going to fight for everything that I believe in’ Solidarity rally attendee says

Vernon Damani Johnson, a WWU political science professor, said the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes has sickened America. He said people of color have always been on the front lines fighting systemic racism, but white people are finally stepping up and moving from just being an ally to building a community and future together with people of color.

“We must get involved in efforts that have been ongoing since Ferguson to reform the law enforcement and criminal injustice systems. We must take up the battle to dismantle systemic racism in all of our institutions. … This revolution will take time. It will not be won dramatically by sweeping aside all of those toxic institutions of white supremacy,” Johnson said, as he was framed by several large banners with the slogan ‘Black Lives Matter’ on stage Saturday. “We must steel ourselves for the long term struggle, it’s going to take all of us to get it done.”