By Saya Mueller, Bronxville School rising 10th Grader
Jun. 24, 2020: Thousands turned out for the Bronxville Unity Walk For Black Lives Matter on Saturday, June 20. The walk, which started at 10 am, was organized by Bronxville families. It began at Leonard Morage Square near the train station, continued on Pondfield Road through the village, and ended at Bronxville Village Hall.
People of all ages participated. Young children with their families held handmade signs. Teenagers, adults, and even a few seniors came out to show their support. Friends met up and walked together. Shopkeepers clapped to show their support. People took pictures and videos to capture the moments. Most people wore masks.
One sign held by a young child captured a simple sentiment "Stop Being Mean." There was a "Stop Hate" sign, a "Love Is Love" sign and "Black Lives Matter" signs.
Upon arrival at Village Hall, marchers gathered on the lawns in front of Village Hall and the Bronxville Library to hear the speakers.
Heidi Kapoor, and Jonathan Beer, who were among the event organizers, spoke along with a number of people from the Bronxville and Westchester communities.
One speaker in particular caught my attention. It was Bronxvile school graduate and current Georgetown Law student, Matt Behrens. He was very passionate and talked about how each and every one of us can make a difference by spreading awareness within our own communities. He was very inspiring.
Below is a list of the speakers.
Mary Marvin, Bronxville Mayor
The event ended with a silent period to mourn and reflect, and a song sung by the congregation of the GoldenSword International Fellowship Church lead by Bishop Owens's son.
In reflecting on the event, Mayor Marvin said, "I thought the spirit of friendship, unity of purpose and desire to act was palpable."
For me, the event really captured what I and I think my peers feel. Every person, no matter the race, nationality, or color of skin, deserves to be treated with respect. The fact that this isn't the case in today's world is simply wrong and needs to be changed. This coming together of all these people in our village shows that many of us feel the same way. This can and will lead to change. Thank goodness.
Photos by A. Warner
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400