Leavenworth Shows Support for Black Lives Matter

Chelsea Murphy knows some telling demographics about Leavenworth. “Population: 2200. Black population: 13 (and that’s generous),” she posted on her Instagram account.

She is one of the thirteen.

So, when she and a group of friends, including Charlotte Massey, Kenzie Converse, Delaney Frazier, Ali Hancock and Jazymn Jira, decided to organize a Black Lives Matter March in Leavenworth on June 5th, they had no way of knowing what sort of turnout a rural, mostly white town would bring.

Protests and marches were happening in cities all over the country and the world. Would Leavenworth residents also come out in support, to show their shared sadness and anger over the death of George Floyd and many other black Americans?

Sharing their event mostly through Facebook and word of mouth, they knew they had 300 RSVPs. Then the throngs poured in toward the Osborn Elementary site, from all the neighboring streets.

By several estimates, 1300 people or more joined the march.

“On Friday night my little mountain town showed up. In the name of equality for humanity. In the name of peace, and justice,” continues Murphy’s post.

Before the march were five powerful speakers. Massey began with an acknowledgement that everyone was standing on land stolen from the Wenatchi people. Mary Big Bull-Lewis and Randy Lewis, local tribal members, spoke in solidarity with the black Americans. Tony Desmukes gave an emotional thank you to all attendees before leading a prayer for the marchers.

The final speaker was Murphy. “When I spoke, I was vulnerable. I never admitted I was afraid for my life. I never admitted how close I was to not showing up at all. God gave me courage,” she recalled in her Instagram post. “Rural America will not be quiet anymore. Our cries for justice echoed through the valley.”

The march, first cleared with the Sheriff’s department, the Leavenworth Mayor’s office and the Cascade School District, was an entirely peaceful affair as the crowds marched a winding path through many residential streets.

“Not everyone supported the protest,” said Massey. “But this march wasn't looters from Seattle. This march was our elementary school teachers and middle school students and the people I grew up with and their parents. My Girl Scouts leader and my next-door neighbor. Business owners and baristas and bartenders and farmers. Kids made signs and marched with their families. It was us.”

Chanting included “Say his name . . . George Floyd,” and “Say her name . . .  Breonna Taylor,” speaking of the unarmed black woman who was fatally shot by the police on March 13^th in Louisville. Breonna Taylor’s 27^th birthday coincided with the Leavenworth march.

After a two and half mile course, the march ended with candles, Amazing Grace and holding 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence, the length of time George Floyd was pinned beneath a police officer’s knee before dying on May 25^th.

There was much talk of this march being the first step. Massey said there will be more events, hosted by a newly formed Council for Black Lives Matter in North Central Washington. The focus will include voter registration, advocacy and book groups to keep the discussion going.

Given the overwhelming turnout for the Leavenworth Black Lives Matter March, it seems locals are ready to embrace change for real equity.