Peaceful Protests in Pittsburgh grow to 600 people, led by Activist Camille Redman
by Channing Capacchione | WeINSPIRE Reporter
BALTIMORE, Md. - Black voices are being raised and heard across all 50 states and around the world. The call for policy change, law reform, and social justice has become incredibly clear and activists like Camille Redman are paving the way.
At just 25 years old, Camille Redman has become the face and voice for change in her Pittsburgh, PA community. “I am a young black girl who used to get bullied. Today I am a powerhouse and the face of a movement,” says Redman.
Pictured: Camille Redman leading a protest in her Pittsburgh community
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
The murder of George Floyd has reignited conversation regarding police brutality, racial inequalities, the policing and prison systems at large, and other implications of systemic racism. While Redman had previously taken to digital media outlets, like Facebook, to voice her opinions and advocate for change, Ashley Love, Redman’s friend, inspired Redman to take matters into her own hands.
Pictured: Camille Redman (left) and Ashely Love (right) ready to protest.
“I was driving through Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania one day and I thought to myself ‘we need a protest here,” says Love. “Then I immediately messaged Camille, ‘we should protest in white neighborhoods.’” At first there was minor hesitation. Living in an area that is heavily populated with white people, Redman is no stranger to experiencing racism.
By protesting in largely white communities, Love and Redman hope to educate and hold thoughtful discussions around ending racism.
“When you’re fighting for a common fight, the color of your skin doesn’t matter,” says Redman. “It’s not a matter of who is going to fix it, but it’s a matter of when we’re going to fix it. The best way to invoke change is to get outside of your comfort zone.”
With the encouragement and influence of Love, Redman created a public Facebook event and proceeded to make a groupchat with their peers from their graduating high school class.
The next day, Redman woke up to overwhelming broad support and community wide involvement. 300 people replied they were going to attend the protest, and 500 people expressed their interest in the event. Redman was shocked at the response, and began communicating with event leaders on how to handle and protect all citizens involved in the protest.
Pictured: Protesters gather on the street.
Photography: Kim Rullo
The growth of the event did not stop there, as word spread, more people became interested and aware of this opportunity to protest for change. Within days, Redman’s action and call for activism spread wildly through Facebook and was pulsing across the community.
The first protest held on June 5th attracted 600 community members to join in the fight against racism.
Pictured: Camille Redman kneeling alongside protesters
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
Redman was astonished. “I couldn’t believe how many white people had come and brought their children. Racism is passed down through generations,” says Redman. She emphasizes the need for people to start listening. To encourage people to speak up and get involved, they first need to understand and become aware of the problems being discussed.
“There were 80 year old women standing on the side of the road saying ‘I fought during Vietnam and I’ll fight for you too,’” says Redman.
Pictured: Activists and protesters in solidarity.
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
“We now have a platform to spread the word about people of color and the injustices they face everyday in America,” says Redman. “Racism and oppression are sewn into America. We learn so much about history in school, but we rarely see the whole truth to it. It has now become our priority to educate ourselves.”
On Thursday, June 11th, Redman and Love hosted their second protest. The initial group grew by nearly 300 more people, as passer-bys joined the march with a common purpose in protest. As support continues to grow, the duo is planning future protests throughout the summer.
“People are starting to listen and that’s really all that we want,” says Redman. “We want our voices to be heard.”
Redman has been featured in the Pittsburgh Current and on MSN for bringing together protests and spreading awareness in largely white communities.
“My mother is my biggest inspiration. She has told me since I was young that I have a fire inside me and to use it to help the greater good,” says Redman. Growing up, Redman’s mother knew she would do great things and change the world, and this year she has manifested it into reality by leading and organizing protests in her community that are now receiving national attention. “I want to live my life the way that my mom has lived hers. She’s just like me and wants to save everybody. She is the person who has pushed me to do this the most.”
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
Today, Redman finds herself empowering others. Locals and artists have joined forces to produce powerful images and artwork of Redman and the protestors. Emmai Alaquivia, Kim Rullo, and Dakota Rethage, are just a few who have put together inspiring work from the Pittsburgh protests.
Emmy award winning film director, Emmai Alaquiva was spotted behind his camera producing high quality photography and film from the protests. “In this time of unrest it is critical for artists to fossilize the movement of revolutionary change,” says Alaquiva. “With the mission of capturing history that is provocative and arresting, we will be able to have an answer for our children when they ask, ‘What did you do during this time?’” Alaquiva’s powerful video photoage can be found at the end of the article, which has already received 17,000+ views among a variety of social platforms.
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
Digital Artwork: Dakota Rethage
Rethage, who is one of Redman’s life long friends, says “I was so inspired by the photograph I saw of her at the protest that I had to recreate it! Using my platform as an artist to amplify, while also documenting these social issues is so important in this movement.” On her Instagram, Rethage posts her digital artwork to share her message with the world.
Other artists, like Rullo, have taken photographs at the protests and turned images into powerful illustrations. As a graphic designer, Rullo’s contribution to activism in her community goes beyond attending protests in her area: she uses her art to address the need for change as well.
Illustration of Camille Redman and protesters created by Kim Rullo.
“There’s still work to be done,” says Redman. “Pittsburgh still has four more changes to make for the 8 can’t wait policy push.” The campaign throughout the United States is working to bring change to police departments, including funding for community safety, reduction to police forces, and the inclusion of restorative justice.
“We don’t want to stop,” says Redman. Protests will continue to be held throughout the summer as protest organizers have already seen actions and policies beginning to change.
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
Redman and Love also plan to create an organization to address issues such as defunding the police and raising awareness for the need to hold officer’s accountable in the justice system if and when they are charged. Other issues Redman plans to focus on include healthcare and Black education in public school systems.
“We will continue focusing on protesting and going into neighborhoods that don’t want us there,” says Redman. She hopes to spark thoughtful conversations with community leaders who have invited her and Love to come speak with them. In the coming weeks they will schedule meetings with City Council, the Mayor of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Police Force for discussions on enactment.
Pictured: Protestors following Camille Redman through the streets of their community.
Photography: Emmai Alaquiva
In the meantime, Redman is organizing a protest planned for July 20, 2020 in honor of Jonny Gammage, cousin of Ex-Pittsburgh Steeler football player Ray Seals, who was killed by police officers in 1995 after being seen driving his cousin’s blue Jaguar in a predominantly white neighborhood. The five policemen involved in Gammage’s death used similar tactics to the officers who murdered George Floyd this past May. His last words were “I’m only 31.”
“I’ve learned that you can only bring people together that want to be,” says Redman. “For us who are in it, we’re in for one common fight. One of the biggest things you can do right now is vote.”
“Camille and I are only getting started,” Love adds. Together, the hard work and dedication shown from Redman and Love continues to unite a community to end racism.
