Black Lives Matter march will wind through Jeannette

A peaceful march Thursday in Jeannette will bring speakers and activists together to shine light on struggles that members of the Black community face locally and around the country.

Co-organizer Marissa McGowan hopes the event will change perceptions about her hometown and create opportunities for children.

“My thing was to take all that negativity, educate everyone on it and then turn it around and show the positive side of our Black community,” she said.

The Jeannette Black Lives Matter — Peaceful March Parade will start at 9 a.m. outside Zion Hill Baptist Church on Clay Avenue. Marchers will head down Clay and onto Fifth Street where they will end at the Magee Avenue parking lot for speakers, artists and other activities. McGowan said all participants must wear masks and be mindful of social distancing.

The march will serve as a way to “to educate our community and create solutions and address some of the issues … that we can change ourselves,” she said. Speakers will include the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, a state trooper and a local attorney, among other community members and professionals.

Pastor Nate Keisel of Mosaic Community Church will lead the group in a prayer at the start of the event. Part of the church’s mission is to raise community awareness and support for cooperation while having a positive impact on children, he said.

“They have tremendous gifts and potential and a lot of them, they just lack … the education or economic opportunities to succeed,” Keisel said.

McGowan working with a committee, including Keisel, Todd Anderson, LaTreace Jackson, Delvon Thompson, Taunja Williamson and Chanelle Derry.

Children in the city don’t benefit from looking to negative role models, which is why McGowan said she wanted to present them with positive options for their futures by showing them the talent that exists in the Black community. Adults can benefit from learning that, too.

“It’s been this way for so long but it doesn’t have to be this way,” she said. “We just want equality. A world where everyone can thrive economically.”

McGowan said the organizers hope to continue working in Jeannette through the committee to push for change and better lives for children. The group is seeking donations of water, coolers and ice for Thursday’s event. Anyone interested in helping can contact them at blacklivesmatterparadejnt@gmail.com.