On the sunny afternoon of June 6, scores of Grovites and guests marched around downtown Cherry Grove in a spirited and heartfelt Black Lives Matter solidarity march, remembering George Floyd and many other people of color brutally and needlessly slain recently by police in cities throughout the land.
We met outside the Community House. Organizer Keith Goudeau welcomed us, saying:
“Hello Cherry Grove! Thank you all for coming out today! It’s a beautiful day for a march! Today we march in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement. We march to elevate the voices of those who have been ignored for way too long. We are here to prompt a discussion that is uneasy and difficult some have said that they never wanted “THIS” here and hoped to keep “IT” at bay. Well, we are here and we will not let our voices go unheard! I am proud of Cherry Grove and let us march together. I’d like to thank the SCPD [Suffolk County Police Department] for ensuring our safety as they always do. They are great allies to this community and I ask them to join us in our march for justice. We march through town, turn on Doctor’s Walk, turn on Lewis and then march up Main walk into town. We should spread out and take a knee and have a moment of silence. We will then march to the dock and we will close with a prayer. We are peaceful, but we are loud! Black lives matter!!!”
Beginning with “Say their names,” spouse Dawn Wilson read the names of those lost, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and Bettie Jones, and continued:
“Tragically, this list could go on and on and on. All senseless murders at the hands of officers of the law whose job is to protect and serve all of us, including our black and brown brothers and sisters. Enough is Enough. It is time, far past time, to end police brutality against our brothers and sisters of color, and to dismantle systemic racism in the criminal justice system and in all of America’s institutions. Cherry Grove, this LGBTQA community, stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. We mourn with you and we rage with you. We call for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and every other victim of police brutality and racial bias. We pledge to do everything we can do to support this movement and put an end to this abhorrent carnage. Black Lives Matter! No justice. No peace.”
We marched, chanting, “Black Lives Matter!” and “No justice. No peace.” We knelt and observed a moment of silence in memory of all of those tragically lost. We continued to the dock and Keith shared a prayer, written by Grovite and Reverend Ray Bagnuolo:
“Along with the Floyd family, we pray. For our leaders who free us from the jails in which some lock us up; for leaders who opened the cages in which anyone is caged for leaders who insist that God-given rights never be legislated away. We pray for leaders who oppose those who embrace racism; for leaders who have the courage to oppose the misuse of power; and for leaders who stand with the truth-tellers, whistle-blowers and troublemakers and us. We pray for the end of racism, no matter the cost; and for those unable to serve our nation in such ways to step down. And we pray to deeply know our God-given authority to demand love and justice for all and have the courage and faith to resist whenever we must. Regardless of the cost. Praying in all the ways and by all the names we may know such a God.”

photo credit & captions:
all photos by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Black Lives Matter solidarity march assembles
Rosie & Annie in Fire Island Strong masks
Pat & Diane
signs
Keith & Dawn
taking a knee
Keith Goudeau & signs at the dock
Kay Davis & flags