The 18-year-old Black Lives Matter protester who closed Oxford Street

Capres Willow organised a 3,000 person strong march in support of the two African-American men shot by police in recent weeks in Minnesota and Louisiana
Campaigner Capres Willow
Alamy Live News.
Rachael Sigee14 July 2016

Capres Willow had never been to a protest when she decided to organise, at three days’ notice, a march in central London to support Black Lives Matter, the global activism movement which began in 2013 in the US after the shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida, and has continued to campaign against violence towards black people and police brutality.

The 18-year-old, from Waltham Abbey in Essex, expected around 30 of her friends to show up — she ended up with 3,000 on Oxford Street on Sunday, brandishing banners of support for Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, the two African-American men shot by police in recent weeks in Minnesota and Louisiana.

“I’d messaged about 10 people in the morning to see if they were interested and my cousin replied, saying: ‘We don’t have nearly enough time before Sunday.’ Basically, it’s a nice thought but it’s not going to happen. She messaged me back that night saying ‘I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.’”

It was watching the video of Sterling’s death which tipped Willow, a travel-blogger and model, from observer to activist.

“I’ve been aware of [the movement] for a while. I’m old enough to take control of my own life and impact on other people’s lives. I was wondering, why hasn’t London stood up and shown that they give a s**t, basically?”

After making a Facebook event, generating Twitter buzz and linking up with London’s branch of Black Lives Matter, the march ended with parts of Oxford Street being shut down by protesters.

“I understand we’re disrupting people’s lives but ... that’s life, isn’t it? I hate to say that, but one day maybe you’re disrupted and late for something but it’s for something important.”

It was one of several Black Lives Matter protests which have taken place over the last week in London, particularly in Brixton, and those taking part have been a diverse group in themselves. Willow herself was born in England, to mixed-race parents.

“Because we are pro-black, it does not mean that we are anti-white. We’re just so concerned at the moment because black lives are being lost en masse ... One girl was carrying a sign that said ‘You don’t have to be black to be outraged.’”

Despite concerns over the low youth voter turnout in the EU referendum, Willow reckons the majority of protesters on Sunday were under 25 and on their first march. Her dad was worried about violence breaking out.

“I was nervous but the police communicated with us a lot and we had a good working relationship. There were 3,000 people and no arrests made, no violence.”

For Willow, it has been extraordinary to be thrust into the centre of such a vibrant movement.

“There was this one point while we were walking to Westminster, all the drivers were hooting and high-fiving us. Everyone was cheering. It felt so overwhelming, so euphoric almost. It gave everybody that good feeling that this is not just a one-off, this is the beginning of something huge.”

March: Protesters on Oxford Street
Jonathan Birdwell

There is certainly a sense of momentum behind this spate of protests and Willow is hopeful that change is afoot. On the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, she is optimistic: “I feel like possibly we are moving into better times. He’s a lot more left-wing than what we had before. It’s nice to see an ethnic minority in power because it’s a rarity.”

Her own experiences as a black woman in London have also driven her.

“It’s mainly young black men being stopped and searched. I got stopped when I hugged a black male friend but when I was with a white group of friends, I was left alone. It is unequal who is stopped.”

When she was studying at Epping Forest College last year, her favourite subject was sociology and she thought that studying and learning was the best way to take action.

“But then the protest came along. There comes a point in your life where one decision has a big impact. And it has for me.”

Now she is organising meetings with MPs, planning a conference and calling her community to action.

Talking about such complex issues is not always easy, especially for someone taking on a leadership role for the first time, but Willow is confidently clear about her cause: “The main message I wanted to send is ‘we are with you, in the States and across the world. Minority groups facing any sort of racism or oppression, we’re with you’. We need to unify and stand together because that’s the only way things are going to get done.”

Follow Rachael Sigee on Twitter: @littlewondering

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