Verona March for Racial Justice

press release: Wed. June 17 , 5:30 pm – 7:45 pm, Veterans’ Park in Verona Verona March for Racial Justice!

We invite all residents in Verona, Fitchburg, and surrounding communities to join in a march of solidarity and protest racial injustice in Verona and beyond. Our goal is to do better and create a better environment where everyone can breathe, walk, and be celebrated and included as an integral part of our society. Silence is no longer an option.

Please wear face masks and practice social distancing at the gathering and during the march.

We grieve with the families of those lost, we mourn for our country and the pain we are witnessing and want to come together and take action to aid in dismantling what has harmed so many for so long. We know that anti-racist work cannot fall exclusively on people of color within our community and so we have vowed to take action. One of the first steps, organizing this march is to support and stand up for the racial justice movement.

We will not remain silent. Our common goal is to do better and work each day to make Verona a place where all residents can breathe, feel protected, celebrated and included as an integral part of the vision of the Verona community.

We plan to form a community-based organization to create on-going opportunities in 2020 for education, support and funding for racial equity and justice in Verona. We know that this work doesn’t start and stop with the tragic murder of George Floyd. This march marks the beginning of a commitment from Verona organizers to make meaningful change and take action in our city and in our schools. For more info, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/543119556595377/

5:30pm Gather

5:40pm SONG “Finally Breathe” by Nico Rocer & Madisyn Jade

5:50pm Welcome and opening by emcee, Tamera Stanley, Executive Assistant to Superintendent of Verona Area School District.

Speakers:

Tamiya Smith, 2020 VASD graduate, outgoing President of the VAHS Black Student Union, and one of this year’s Commencement speakers. She will attend UW-Madison in the fall, with an undecided major, but will be getting her certificate in Criminal Justice.

Luke Diaz, Mayor of the City of Verona.

Deborah Biddle, Founder and Chief Consultant at The People Company, and member of the Verona Area

School District Board of Education

6:10pm. **March for Racial Justice down Main Street and back to Veteran’s Park** 7:00pm Speakers

Jared Biddle, 2017 VASD graduate, co-founder and president of the VAHS Black Student Union. He is a rising senior at UW-Madison majoring in Elementary Education and Afro-American Studies, and has been involved with the Wisconsin Black Student Union, the Associated Students of Madison, among other organizations. After graduation, Jared plans on attending graduate school to pursue a degree in Education Policy.

Corey Saffold, interim Director of School Safety and Security for the Verona Area School District (VASD) in Verona, Wisconsin. Prior to his role with the VASD, Saffold served as a City of Madison Police Officer for a decade. During that time, he also served as a school resource officer where he successfully created and implemented restorative programs that reduced citations, arrests, and overall police involvement within the school. Concurrently, Saffold served as an advisor for the Black Student Union where he facilitated multiple initiatives that contributed to the successful matriculation of diverse students through high school and on to higher education.

Moment of Silence for George Floyd, 8 minutes and 46 seconds, lead by Tamera Stanley.

Closing speaker, Chad Kemp is a trial lawyer, president of the Verona City Council, a long-time resident of Verona, but most importantly, a dad to three children.