NORFOLK, Va. — In Hampton Roads, the community will remember Sonya Massey. An Illinois deputy shot and killed Massey in her home earlier this month.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be the same after watching that, another Black woman shot in her home,” said community advocate Jacqueline Horton.
The shooting death of Sonya Massey is a moment Horton will never forget.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I think it had the level of impact that George Floyd’s murder had on me.”
The recently released police camera footage of the night at her Illinois brings about a lot of emotions.
“I promise you, I wanted to stand outside with a sign that just said Sonya Massey,” she said.
Horton said anger and rage sparked a rally set to take place this Sunday at MLK Park hoping to bring the Norfolk community together.”
“Tamika Mallory and the group ‘Until Freedom’ they actually did a call to action on social media," Horton said. "So, when they put this call to action up for people in other states, I knew that was the moment where we needed to join in solidarity.”
Horton and her organization The Underground 1865 plan to march in the area demanding justice for Massey and uniting changemakers.
“That they’ll feel empowered to come out and organize their own march... being a real-world changer,” she said.
Though, the work is not easy. Horton said it’s important to take care of yourself while fighting for change.
“Make sure that you take five minutes out of your day to reset,” she said. “Recently, I’ve started writing spoken word again. And that was the first thing I did after I saw that shooting.”
She said it's important to find healthy ways to cope like music, writing, talking with other community activists and creating an action plan to be a part of the solution.
Horton hopes the rally and march will inspire future events in Hampton Roads. Most importantly, there’s one thing she wants people to remember.
“Black women matter,” Horton said.