NORTHAMPTON — Organizers with Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is staging a rally Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Thornes Marketplace.
“We’re answering a call from Black Lives Matter and the movement for black lives to take a stand visually and take a stand and make a commitment against white supremacy,” said Natascia Pica, 42, of Easthampton.
Pica has been involved with the group since the 2014 shooting of unarmed black man Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, she said.
Pica attended a recent rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Tuesday following shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota, and said she was disappointed that it was mostly white people who attended.
“That means that black folks don’t feel comfortable showing up for whatever reason,” she said.
She said that while the movement is led by people of color, white people have a supporting role to play.
“It’s a lifelong commitment white folks should be making against racism,” she said.
Saturday’s rally consists of lining up on the sidewalk and trying to engage people on the street, according to Pica. She said there were not plans to block foot or vehicle traffic.
“I think it will be great; there will be lots of traffic where we’ll be standing,” she said. “We know white people want to act; we have more requests than we ever have before to join our mailing list.”
The rally is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m.
Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at deisen@gazettenet.com.