VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.— A Virginia Beach youth march is educating the next generation about racial issues while showing them how to use their voices to create change.
Inspired by her 9-year-old and 19-year-old daughters, Tanecia Newman organized the Keep It Moving Kids March.
“I just felt the need to create a safe space where we can continue to use our voices and allow our children to participate,” Tanecia Newman said.
A small group of around 20 children and adults gathered at the Williams Farm Recreation Center in Virginia Beach Saturday at 11 a.m. They then marched to the future home of the Virginia African American Cultural Center.
Tanecia Newman says the message of the march is focused on love, peace and unity.
“If we have love and if we have unity, these racial issues wouldn’t be an issue.”
The group chanted “Say her name: Breonna Taylor” while carrying handmade Black Lives Matter signs.
The Virginia Beach Police Department was informed of the rally, and blocked roads along the route to ensure the group safely navigated the roads.
Tanecia Newman’s older daughter joined the march to help teach the next generation of leaders about using their voice to create change.
“There’s little black boys who need to understand that their life matters, and I feel like there’s little black girls that need to understand that they can make a change to just by using the freedom of speech,” Taniiah Lewis said.
Change is exactly what her younger sister Tamerah says she is hoping to see in this world.
“I feel like I’m being treated unfair, because I know that white people, they are being treated in different ways than black people are,” Tamerah Newman said.
Their mother hopes that by encouraging the next generation to lead with love, they can help shape a more equitable world for us all.
“Love is our first language. We were born to love, we are taught to hate, and that’s the main reason that I wanted to make sure that the kids are involved,” Tanecia Newman said.
