A Unity Rally will be held on Sunday June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community Plaza in Ellwood City.
The event will feature a line-up of speakers. Organizers said the event is non-partisan and all are welcome and encouraged to attend and raise awareness of and show support for the Black Lives Matter and current Civil Rights Movement sweeping across our nation.
In addition to speakers, NAACP and Lawrence County Action will have tables with information, and there will be a voter registration available as well.
“I am proud to be part of this event and to continue helping push the message and mission of equality for all,” said Kolbe Cole, Candidate for State Representative in District 10. “I love Ellwood City and have met a lot of great people campaigning there over the last few months. I believe that everyone deserves to have equal opportunities and a good quality of life. The reforms that we are pushing for would do so much for the communities in this District and across Pennsylvania. People say it starts from the top but I believe it starts from the bottom. The power is in the people.”
Cole will speak at the rally along with the following community leaders:
- Julian Taylor, Co-Founder, Pennsylvania Progressive Veterans
- PA 16 Congressional Candidate Kristy Gnibus
- Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker
- Reverend James Johnson
- New Castle NAACP President Monica Razo
- New Castle NAACP Vice President Winston Ward
Cole is not alone in her mission to give voice to this movement.
It is so vital for each of our small towns to stand up together in unity and solidarity against racial injustice,” said Angela Valvano, Vice Chair, Lawrence County Democratic Committee and co-sponsor of the rally. “I’ve heard a lot of commentary starting this is a ‘national issue’ and not of local concern here in Ellwood City. Our country and our national discourse is a huge beautiful quilted patchwork of local concerns, none of which stand alone, but are all interwoven and interconnected. The fight for racial justice and against police brutality is morally imperative and has a place in each of our communities.”
Valvano said the issues must be addressed systemically, through legislation and reform, but also personally in our own hearts and our own communities.
“We are hoping this event will be the beginning of many conversations, public and private, on how to make Lawrence County a safer, more inclusive, and more welcoming environment for ALL of its residents,” she said.
According to Valvano, the movement sweeping across the United States is a second Civil Rights Movement.
“It’s a moment for us as a nation to reexamine and recommit ourselves to our core ideals of ‘Liberty and Justice for All’,” she said.
Valvano is joined by the following co-sponsors:
- Mary Maine, Resident of Ellwood City
- Julian Taylor, Co-Founder, Pennsylvania Progressive Veterans
- Lawrence County Action
- Kolbe Cole, Candidate for State Representative in District 10
- Pennsylvania Progressive Veterans
Maine made her presence and voice heard during a June 8 council meeting where she urged local officials and leaders to end their silence regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.
A co-sponsor of the rally, she said it is important for us to unite and stand rather than be divided.
“It’s important to have uncomfortable conversations and educate ourselves as well as our community about the varied human experiences in this world,” Maine said. “Unity is the ultimate goal. Participating is the ask. Participate in a global conversation. My hope is that people will come to the rally and participate and see that there is a bigger picture.”
Whats next defund the police how stupid can you get!!!!!
Wonder if these same people that are trying to make us aware of black lives have spent there time protesting at abortion clinics where innocent lives of black children are taken every day