10 Lady Leaders Of The New Civil Rights Movement was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
1. Black Women Leaders Of The New Cool
The climate our country is facing is a rough one. We’re watching men of color die at the hands of police, who face zero indictments and as a result, protests, unrest and race wars are passionately sparking all over the country. Who’s the face of this new Civil Rights movement? Black women. We are standing for our fathers, sons, brothers…and we’re on the shoulders of legendary giants like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Johnetta Elzie
Shot by a rubber bullet while standing on her neighborhood street, Elzie refuses to be silent. She says nothing the police do will stop her. Like many other Ferguson residents, the 25-year-old saw Black men being killed in her own neighborhood and knew she had to speak out. She told HuffPo, “Mike Brown’s blood was the call to action.” Elzie curates a Ferguson protestor newsletter. Follow her http://bit.ly/1xpjmww
3. Reverend Traci Blackmon, PrayingWithOurFeet.org
She’s a pastor in Florissant, St. Louis who found herself on the front lines of Ferguson. She was the one who made MS Gov. Jay Nixon come to church & hear the horror stories of Ferguson residents, the things he ignored. Her church was a training site for non-violent protests led by Dr. King’s daughter. She also started #PrayingWithOurFeet to spark action in prayer. To heal. Find out more: http://bit.ly/1EiyPTO
4. Ashley Yates-Founder of Millennial Actvists United
In the humble effort to provide truth and on-the-ground coverage of the carnage in Ferguson, MS, Yates along with Alexis Templeton, Brittney Ferrell and Larry Fanells III, started the Millennial Activists United group. “The protest thing is just really self-preservation,” she says. MAU is here to show the world there will always be a response for the racial and murderous actions against us. http://bit.ly/1wlLdw9
5. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, Missouri state senator
Known for her venomous tongue (she dropped the F-bomb at Gov. Nixon) and passionate views, Nadal told MSNBC, “As a legislator, being black, being a woman … we’re pigeonholed, we’re put into a box. I’m sick of it.” So she responded to Ferguson’s authorities with anger. She’s been shot at, tear gassed and refuses to let the people of Ferguson down. This is our race war, she says. http://on.msnbc.com/11tniTJ
6. Brittany Packnett, The Executive Director of Teach For America in St. Louis
She’s more than her job title. She said telling girls to be leaders tomorrow wasn’t good enough, they needed to be leaders now. She’s been appointed to the Ferguson Commission Committee, met with President Obama to discuss Ferguson and serves as a mouthpiece for the youth who are affected by systematic racism. She’s looking to amend policies and develop a space for the community to be heard. http://huff.to/1ypjpdm
7. Brittany Ferrell & Alexis Templeton of Millennial Activists United
These two Ferguson lovebirds helped found MAU group that brings awareness of systematic racism from the suburbs to the world. They fell in love on the front line and are passionately fighting racial injustice. It’s the kind of love story that breaks and builds your hope. These ladies started making noise because Ferguson is home and they had to defend where they lay their heads at night. http://bit.ly/1xoNY1b
8. Kayla Reed, Justice Core STL
As a Ferguson resident, Reed’s been diligently protesting since Michael Brown’s death. In several interviews, Reed was able to give accurate accounts about what happened to her and the fellow protestors on the streets of Ferguson. She also marched with police chief Tom Jackson and explains why the situation turned violent. http://bit.ly/1EiARU5
9. Patrisse Cullors, Director @PowerDignity, Co-Founder @Blklivesmatter, Artist. Organizer. Freedom Fighter.
Cullors offers dignity and power to incarcerated people in LA through her org Dignity & Power Now. She also helped found Black Lives Matter and it’s a movement to destroy anti-Black structures. Her mission? To see major policy around decriminalizing Black lives, including reducing law enforcement budget. And she’s on her way, leading orgs speak up and out against inequality. http://bit.ly/1uiwfrf
10. Black Youth Project 100
Made up of mostly Black women, these 100 Black young leaders from all over created this movement to gain justice & freedom for all Black people through building a collective focused on transformative leadership development, non-violent direct action organizing, advocacy and education. They train Black activists on impacting their community, mobilize leaders on Black issues & more. http://bit.ly/15qXppC
