“The youth are fed up,” said Jaychele Nicole Schenck, founder, protest leader, and youth organizer with the new group Gen Z: We Want to Live. “It is time for Rhode Island youth to take a stand. We are thankful for the help we’ve received along the way, but it is time to heal what we have inherited from the generations before us, who are now trying to limit us.“

The brand new youth group, Gen Z: We Want to Live, will launch their student-led movement at Kennedy Plaza on Sunday, June 14 at noon, on Donald Trump’s birthday. They will be hosting the “We Want To Live” protest. Youth protesters plan to march from Kennedy Plaza to the Rhode Island State House. Once they reach the State House, all attendees will drop dead to the ground for eight minutes and forty-six seconds to honor George Floyd.

In a press release, Gen Z: We Want to Live declared, “We are individual youth, some of whom have grown from youth organizations. This event is not being led by adults or any organizations. We are thankful for our adult allies, but us as youth are qualified to do this! We have been called children and kids countless times, which is incorrect. We are youth/young adults who are more than able to do this work!

“We are a newly formed youth-run organizing group. It is time for us to take the reigns. Adults, it is time for you to begin to trust us. We will be the ones to decide when we need support, and what type.”

At a press conference outside the offices of the Providence Public Schools, the founders of the new organization spoke about their plans.

“We as youth exude power that will go into future generations and play as the blueprint,” said Isabella James Indellicati, founder, protest leader, and youth organizer. “We will continue to make noise, and work undeniably hard until we are heard and taken account for. Our age does not determine our work ethic, intelligence, or capabilities. We will never stop and hope everyone joins us to keep the movement alive, outside of it being a trend.”

“I you are a person of color, you were born an activist, and it is your duty to make sure that when we’re out there fighting, you’re fighting with us, and we need all our allies. There is a role for everyone in these upcoming events,” said Brooklyn, founder of PROVZ, (Progressive Reform Overrides Violence, Led by Generation Z.)

Brooklyn and Nicole Schenck then announced that PROVZ and Gen Z: We Want to Live will be collaborating on upcoming racial justice projects.

“Rhode Island’s political establishment has strategically, repeatedly failed all of you, on all levels,” said Representative Anastasia Williams (Democrat, District 9, Providence). “I am here with you and pledge to you that I shall not only listen but continue to hear you. I will teach you about the Good Ol’ Boys network, also known as the Good Ol’ White Boys network.”

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