This browser does not support the Video element.
Young LA man speaks out about civil unrest in his city
LOS ANGELES - “Losing our lives to police officers is one of the biggest fears we have in South L.A.”
At just 16-years-old Davion Pilgrim spoke out to the community of Los Angeles and demanded change.
Pilgrim was invited by Mayor Eric Garcetti to speak during his daily press briefing. Garcetti said they met earlier in the day and wanted to share Pilgrim’s story to the community and explain what this movement and moment mean.
Pilgrim said he’s a high school athlete at Morningside High School in Inglewood and is president of the youth department at Greater Zion Church in Compton.
While speaking to the public he told the story of how we was recently pulled over by police and racially and criminally profiled and accused of being associated with a gang.
This browser does not support the Video element.
“I thought that really hurt because that’s not me. I am a god-fearing young black man, I am an athlete, I am a president of the youth department,” Pilgram said.
“I love God, that is why I believe in a change and have hope. This opportunity with the people of faith to have a conversion with the mayor was hopeful. We want to make sure that what happened to George Floyd never happens again to someone who looks just like me.”
He told the public that he has seven brothers and sisters and never wants anything bad to happen to them.
Pilgrim expressed that while the community should continue to protest and demand change, he says there is no need to loot or tear things down.
“There is still time for unity. Conversation are what we need. The police needs to know where we are coming from,” he added.
He expressed that people need to come together and hold officers accountable.
His speech to the public along with the mayor’s comes after days of unrest in Los Angeles as thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd and police brutality.