If Rev. Al Sharpton ever hoped to lead the "black lives matter" movement that's sweeping the United States, he likely lost that opportunity in one moment on Saturday.
The moment came during the "Justice For All" march in Washington, D.C., which was organized by Sharpton's National Action Network. The group had a set list of speakers, but Johnetta Elzie, who said she had been tear-gassed while protesting in Ferguson, Missouri -- where the movement originated after the killing of a black teenager by a white police officer -- wanted the microphone.
Young people had led the protest marches from the beginning, Elzie later argued, so they should be given a voice. But when Elzie -- known as @nettaaaaaaaa on Twitter -- finally began talking, march organizers cut the mic.
NAN just cut off the mic when @Nettaaaaaaaa tried to speak pic.twitter.com/KQHxASqKMp— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) December 13, 2014
From earlier, when NAN tried to shut down @nettaaaaaaaa, @wyzechef and @2liveunchained https://t.co/85vlWHOvEr— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) December 13, 2014
She eventually got to speak for a short few seconds. But by then, Sharpton and NAN had lost much of the support young protesters might have given them, and you can hear it in her voice.
.@nettaaaaaaaa finally got the mic at Freedom Plaza in D.C. https://t.co/2RlebROiEs— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) December 13, 2014
After that, the dam broke, and young members of the movement railed against Sharpton's "corporate" approach to activism, and the lack of passion in the crowd at the Justice For All March, especially when compared to other protests that have flared up across the country.
Injustice existed well before August. But in August, #Ferguson began a movement rooted in protest that was new for my generation.— deray mckesson (@deray) December 14, 2014
So yes, I now have a problem with Sharpton. To attempt to erase Ferguson while simultaneously exploiting it epitomizes spiritual corruption.— deray mckesson (@deray) December 14, 2014
.@Nettaaaaaaaa is speaking the truth, pass the baton & then sit down and advise from a distance. Isn't your nightly show enough sir?!?!— Jamar Hooks (@jadore_jamar) December 13, 2014
Where the @NationalAction has gotten it wrong over the past 127 days is that this is and will remain a YOUTH led movement. #DCFerguson— ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) December 13, 2014
Why must Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson be master of ceremony on such occasions? Aren't they now part of the establishment? #Justice4All— franklin Brown (@franklin19788) December 13, 2014
Young protesters were also not pleased with the idea of a VIP section at a protest ostensibly designed for the populace.
A VIP section at a PROTEST? On the DAY OF RESISTANCE?! That alone is problematic.— ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) December 14, 2014
It's not that many of the younger protesters didn't believe the older generation should have a say. They were often quick to clarify that the participation of all generations is significant. But they didn't understand nor appreciate being told to pass the baton to Sharpton and a pre-ordained leadership who could "take it from here," so to speak.
The demonstrations in Ferguson and cities across the country have been grassroots protests. They are led by multiple people in each location. Parts of the media have been fixated on the movement's leadership since its origin, but, as The Washington Post's Wesley Lowery points out, that fixation probably has roots in how the media sees past movements, such as the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.
Interesting dialogue between Candy Crowley and Deval Patrick a moment ago on CNN about ongoing Black Lives Matter momentum— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) December 14, 2014
Crowley asserts "movements need leaders" as a transition to ask Gov. Patrick if Al Sharpton an appropriate leader for ongoing movement— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) December 14, 2014
Patrick corrects her - notes that while history remembers MLK, Civil Rights Movement had broad, decentralized (sometimes warring) leadership— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) December 14, 2014
Interesting how we all carry conventional wisdom about what ""movements" "need." (leaders, unity, specific demands, unimpeachable martyrs)— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) December 14, 2014
That conventional wisdom stems from our perception (often inaccurate or revisionist) of how and why other social movements were successful— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) December 14, 2014
And proof that the movement doesn't need a Sharpton-like leader was evident on the ground on Saturday. As the National Action Network's march in the nation's capital wound down, Millions March New York City was just beginning. The march in Washington, D.C. drew around 10,000 people, but the protest in NYC reportedly drew something in the range of tens of thousands.
Numbers speak.