On Monday, hundreds of people gathered in front of City Hall in San Francisco to hear from Mayor London Breed, community leader Amos Brown, District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, artist Jamie Foxx, and other leaders in the community. Just a day after over 1,000 people peacefully protested in the streets, Breed organized a Kneel-In rally in support of black lives. Many of the leaders shared remarks that moved the crowd. But many were blown away by Mayor Breed as she made it a point to not mince her words.
Since being elected mayor of San Francisco, Breed has garnered the support of many as the first black woman to hold the position in the history of the city. As a woman who grew
up in public housing in the western section of San Francisco, Breed is familiar with the plight of the overlooked black community in the city from housing disparities to the wealth gap. And of course, police brutality. In 2006, Breed’s cousin was killed by a San Francisco police officer. And as black America cries out for the end of white supremacy and more value to be placed on black lives, Mayor Breed has been vocal about being sick and tired of being sick and tired.ABC 7 News reported and shared the video from Kneel-In with Breed and it has since caught the attention of many.
Related: London Breed’s Victory is an Ode to San Francisco’s Invisible Black Population [Opinion]
Mayor Breed Speaks Out
During the rally, Breed told the crowd, “Don’t get it twisted, I am the mayor, but I’m a black woman first.”
When addressing the crowd, she opened with, “My heart has been heavy. Yes, I’m the mayor, but I’m a black woman first. I’m a black woman first. I grew up in this city. I grew up not too far from here in public housing. I never thought I’d be mayor. I never thought I’d be in any situation to push for change. The reason why I got involved in public office in the first place had everything to do with wanting to make sure that I’m the norm and not the exception,” said Breed.
To allies, she said, “I appreciate all of you for being
here. I appreciate those who care and are genuinely concerned. But I want to say one thing. Black Lives Matter is nobody’s joke. I’m tired of people treating it that way. I’m tired of people masking their racism in Black Lives Matter. It is not a joke.”Black Lives Matter
She went on to say, “It is not a joke. It is born out of pain. It is born out of racism that we are gonna fight against. It is born out of our struggle, our blood, sweat, and tears for all that we have struggled through in this country. Don’t get it twisted. It is not a joke.”
“So, for those of you who are genuine in this struggle, we thank you and we welcome you. But for those of you who are using this movement as a way to push violence, to go after other black people, to tear us down, we will not tolerate that,” she exclaimed.”
She concluded her time on the steps of City Hall saying, “Don’t get it twisted. I am the mayor, but I’m a black woman first. I am angry. I am hurt. I am frustrated. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don’t want to see one more black man die at the hands of law enforcement. That’s what this movement is about,” she then led the crowd in the chant, “Not one more.”
Mayor Breed sentiments are shared with leaders and people around the world.