Rachel Alarcio, age 20 (alum)
I wrote this poem as a reminder to myself and others to keep fighting injustice even after “the moment” has passed. It is my intention that the piece serves as a reminder of the interracial unity I witnessed that day in L.A. during the summer of 2020 as well as similar scenes throughout the nation and the world.
Remember When We Marched
Thousands on molten asphalt,
when we listened to our Black
brothers with drums, bullhorns
and a fire buried beneath their chests? Yes,
we came years late, but rock beats scissors,
like late beats never, right?
Remember down Sunset
we passed tías and abuelas
handing out plastic bottles
of off-brand Crystal Geyser
to adopted children
of the resistance. On Hollywood,
we knelt holding corrugated
cardboard signs, slogans
marked with Sharpie, Angelenos
of every color dressed in black,
donning masks to battle
the chili-pepper heat
of the SoCal sun and the two
types of virus: hate and violence.
Our signs said: We
stand with Blacks. Latinos
stand with Blacks. Armenians
stand with Blacks. Salvadorians
stand with Blacks. Asians
stand with Blacks. Mexicans
stand with Blacks. Filipinos
stand with Blacks. Hondurans
stand with Blacks.
Say Her Name.
Say His Name.
Rest In Power.
Don’t let the ethos fade
like chemtrails in an overcast sky.
Sing. Rise. Shout so the aggressors
know exactly who’s coming.