Camden, New Jersey. Back in 2014, some dubbed Camden to be the most violent and dangerous city in America. Fast forward 6 years and it’s 2020. Society is in the midst of a global pandemic and boiling nationwide protests. Starting in Minneapolis, protests addressing the killing of George Floyd from police brutality have spurred across the United States, destroying many cities. Yet, despite all the uproar, if you looked at the streets of Camden, you would see quite the opposite. You would see a rebuilding city with peaceful protest and people who support each other. And even, you would see police officers fighting alongside protestors, not against.
Camden County Police Chief Joseph Wysocki told ABC News in an interview that Camden is “a community, and [everyone is] part of the community. It’s not us policing the city; it’s us, together.” This is why the scenes of Camden on May 31 were quite different from other protests around the country. Police officers were seen posing for pictures with protestors, marching with protestors, and even kneeling down to honor the Black Lives Matter movement.
To access a video provided by NJ.com filming the Camden County protesters marching with police officers, click here.
In a recent Instagram post, former President Barack Obama even discussed Camden’s peaceful protests. Addressing certain police officers and anti-protestors, he stated that peaceful protestors “deserve our respect, and support, not condemnation” which “cities like Camden … have commendably understood.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5X31igzCL/
Upper School student Casandra Dominguez ’23 attended the peaceful protests in Camden on Sunday afternoon. She described them with one word: “eye-opening.”
Living in a city with such a large minority population, Dominguez remarked, “I have always been passionate about using my voice against the inequalities minorities face in this country… The protests were very powerful and officials made sure that everyone shared how they felt about the issue.”
When addressing how Camden County police officers were seen supporting protests, Dominguez said, “Honestly, I am extremely proud of my city for being this peaceful. The police marching with civilians made me feel empowered and it was reassuring to know that the city was capable of holding a peaceful protest.”
A city just six years ago known for its violence is now an example that everyone can learn from. As riots continue across the nation, remember that if you look deep into the city, the streets, the police, the people, you can see that coming together sparks greater change.
