By Erica Wright
The Birmingham Times
A closer look at a Birmingham-area activist:
Erica Robbins, Be a Blessing Birmingham
Robbins, 38, said social media has been her greatest asset during last few months, following the deaths of black people at the hands of police that have sparked nationwide protests and civil unrest.
Those include Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, who died on May 25 during an encounter with police officers in Minneapolis.
“I’m making sure I use my voice to amplify the messages we’re trying to put out, … not only in regard to justice but for marginalized groups, in general.”
Robbins has helped bail protesters out of jail and plan marches, as well as used her platform to call out bad business practices.
“I’ve been at the jail for [up to] 14 hours waiting until the very last [protestor arrested was released]” she said. “I’ve been working with different people in the area to get the charges dropped for people protesting and get them legal representation.
“I’m advocating for the homeless, the food insecure, for those under poverty levels. … Their lives and their quality of life matters, and we have to be able to do all of this at the same time. The world is watching us, so we have to make sure we’re doing right by them.”
To read more stories about local activists and Part I of the Black Lives Matter series, click one of the links below.
T. Marie King: The Change Agent
Onoyemi Williams: The Peacemaker
DeJuana Thompson: The Organizer
BLM Birmingham Member Looking To Build Statewide Chapters
‘Know Justice, Know Peace’: BLM’s Fight Against Racial Injustice from Birmingham
Eric Hall, Co-Founder of Local BLM, Patterns Activism After Mom’s Work Ethic
