August 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 12

WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION
Parks and Freedom of Speech
By Paul Gilbert

reedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly - these simple but powerful rights were the first to be added to the Constitution
in 1789. These most critical rights were created so our democracy
could change and grow over time. America was an early experiment in freedom and democracy, and our Founding Fathers had lofty ideas,
like " all men are created equal. " But with the killing of George Floyd in May
at the hands of police, the world was painfully reminded how the reality of
justice in the United States contrasts greatly from what we aspire to achieve.
highly motivated to take action.
One of the countless examples of
this occurred on June 6 at Algonkian
Regional Park in Northern Virginia, 25 miles from Washington, D.C.
Ocean Akinotcho, a Potomac Falls
High School student, used social media to rally 2,000 people for a Black
Lives Matter march. The event began at Potomac Lakes Sportsplex, a
Loudoun County Park, and proceeded through Algonkian Regional Park,
which is owned by NOVA Parks.
Spanning a few miles, the march

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOVA PARKS

The protests that started in Minneapolis, Minnesota, rapidly spread
across the country - first in the
major cities, then everywhere. Large
and small, the protests and marches
compelled people to stop sheltering
at home, due to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, and assemble in public to voice their desire for
justice. Unlike other moments of
public protest that have lasted for
just days, this moment tapped deep
into our sense of right and wrong.
Young people, in particular, became

Parks & Recreation

featured several stops where speeches were given. While some localelected officials spoke, many other speeches came from high school
students expressing their anger over
racial injustice and inequality.
During the earliest phase of the
pandemic reopening, with permitted group gatherings still limited
by the governor to just 10 people,
it was not possible to allow a large
assembly in a park. However, First
Amendment rights to freedom of
speech and assembly supersede the
governor's orders or park rules.
Though ordinarily, due to
COVID-19, NOVA Parks would not
have been able to permit the event,
the agency changed course after seeing posts on social media that the
march would take place as planned.
Park staff reached out to the young
organizer and offered help with logistical considerations - including
parking, traffic control, restrooms
and other issues related to public
safety. During one of the first speeches, Akinotcho gave a shout out to the
park staff, thanking them for being
so helpful to her. Reflecting on the
event, she says, " Honestly, [park
staff] were a great help. They gave
us a safe alternative to my original
route. And during the march, they
also had their employees help out
with traffic and directing the crowd. "
One of the marchers, Stacey HardyChandler, says, " This beautiful park
setting really does reflect the message we want to send to the world
- a message of justice and of peace.
I was struck by the NOVA Parks
sign letting everyone coming to the
park know there would be a 'First
Ocean Akinotcho, a Potomac Falls High
School student, used social media to
rally 2,000 people for a Black Lives
Matter march.

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August 2020 - Parks & Recreation

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