WWD Ambassador Monica Walton Shares Powerful Video Titled “Black Lives Matter”
Image Credit: Monica Walton (@monicawalton_ on Instagram)
After enduring weeks of social distancing, self-isolation, and quarantine, Americans and people around the world are fighting — in the streets, at home, and online — to have their voices heard: Black Lives Matter. As we enter the second week of demonstrations, we have seen thousands of people have been protesting the impunity for police brutality and vigilantism perpetrated against black people in the United States.
Following the senseless murders of Ahmaud Arbery, who was hunted and gunned down while jogging, and Breonna Taylor, who was murdered in her own home during a “no knock” raid, people were incensed by yet another video documenting the carelessness with which black bodies are handled by the police. None of these tragedies were presented with an opportunity to receive justice until their stories became well-known on the internet. In horror, we all had to watch as for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, George Floyd (unarmed and restrained) was forced to lay on the ground, struggling for breath as an officer, unwavering in his apathy, pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck. 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
Despite concurrent worries about the still-active COVID-19 pandemics, knowledge of George Floyd’s death and the initial impunity of his murderers caused thousands of people to risk their lives and their health to march for his justice. Protests began in Minnesota on May 26th and have continued every day since, expanding to more cities around the world.
Those who cannot march are showing their support in other ways.
On June 2nd, people participated in Blackout Tuesday, where they abstained from posting personal content and instead posted black squares to make information about the movement stand out on people’s timelines. On various social media platforms, people shared their stories, instances of unjust encounters they have had with the police, and have used their platforms to speak out about injustice and the state of our country.
Video Credit: Monica Walton
In conjunction with these efforts, creators on social media are using their talents to show their support. On May 31st, Women Who Drone ambassador Monica Walton posted on her YouTube channel a video titled simply “Black Lives Matter”. In it, the audio of Ronald Vinson’s poem “Letter to Your Flag” plays over video and images of protests and police brutality. In her description, she writes,
“I didn't create a video tutorial for Youtube this week. My heart has been breaking for George Floyd's family, for America, the chaos, the agony & the division in the world.
I came across a poem on Youtube, by a talented young man named Ronald Vinson. He performed this a couple of years ago.
We seem to be going backwards. Away from justice, away from peace & compassion - it moved me to create this video, to show what I can't find the words to say. #justiceforgeorge”
Image Credit: Monica Walton (@monicawalton_ on Instagram)
Monica Walton is a certified drone pilot and a Women Who Drone ambassador living in the Cayman Islands. Hopefully, her decision to use her voice by creating this video will help encourage others to feel free to do the same. You can learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement here. If you’d like to learn more about Monica, check out her Pilot Spotlight Video on our Facebook page or head to her Instagram. If you’d like to see what our other brand ambassadors have accomplished, check out our Pilot Spotlight series on our blog and Facebook page.
A big part of helping the movement has been fundraising and sharing links for donations. Protests have been met with the various forms of retaliation and as a result, some people have been arrested for taking to the streets. According to BuzzFeed News, over 11,000 people have been arrested at protests across the United States. Many people, including celebrities, are offering up funds to help bail protesters out of jail. Some people are even offering legal counsel to those who have been arrested while protesting. People are also donating money to the Floyd family to support them in the wake of their tragedy. As of the writing of this article, the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund organized by Floyd’s brother has raised $13,019,800.
If you’d like to help the movement monetarily, you can donate to these organizations or wherever you see your contribution making the most difference. You can also check out this guide to supporting black-owned small businesses published by The Finimpact Blog.
Thank you for your support during these times. Stay safe and healthy.
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
