An alleged racist incident committed against 13-year-old Kailyn Jordan has pitted neighbor against neighbor in a Shoreline community. There have been marches and rallies in support of Jordan, who objected to a neighbor’s Blue Lives Matter yard posting, which eventually spurred the alleged racist exchange. Hundreds gathered at a July 25 rally and later at a “Chalk it up for Love” event. More recently, on Aug. 15, a rally called “Stand with Shoreline Youth” took place at Shoreline City Hall, top photo. The rally brought together Kailyn’s supporters and Black Lives Matter activists bearing signs and flags, above. Speakers, including Kailyn Jordan, left photo, spoke to those who gathered in the public place, and assorted performers asked for allies and equity from their city. Kailyn is a student at Shoreline’s Kellogg Middle School. Her mother, Dawn Jordan, is currently petitioning the local school board to get school resource officers (SROs) out of schools. “We must get the SROs out of our schools and this is our opportunity to use our good trouble making to make a positive difference for our kids and our community,” Jordan wrote on the Black Lives Matter Shoreline Facebook post. “Let’s focus this outrage and make sure all of our kids are safe and able to learn equitably without police presence.”
Read more of the Aug. 19-25, 2020 issue.