CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine — Current and former students of Cape Elizabeth High School organized a Black Lives Matter rally attended by hundreds of people Wednesday night.
Aman Hagos, a 2019 graduate of Cape Elizabeth, spearheaded the event spoke to NEWS CENTER Maine saying, “Racism in our community has gone on for far too long. We need to do more.”
The Cape Elizabeth rally was run completely by students and former students. Though Hagos said he worked in tandem with the Cape Elizabeth Police and town leaders on the logistics.
The rally speakers were mostly young and included a 10-year-old African-American child who told rally goers that he worries about how police will treat him, and then he broke into tears.
“When that 10-year-old spoke, it broke my heart. How sad is it that a child this young is already experiencing racism?” Hagos said.
Another organizer, Hajan Carter, who is 18 and just graduated Cape Schools this month said, “I think when children get together and share their experiences it becomes real and changes people. When you see a neighbor share their struggles with racism it becomes real to you.”
Hagos added that numerous people from Cape Elizabeth have reached out to him so say the rally “opened their eyes” to what is happening in their own town. Hagos said that’s encouraging but there is much more to do.
“We need more people to join this movement. I want to see all of Cape Elizabeth at these marches. I want all my neighbors to feel the magnitude of this in their hearts.”
Hajan added, “I looked out at the crowd and recognized nearly everyone. We need to see that. But this doesn’t stop here. We will do more.”