Black Lives Matter Spreads Back To School Joy

By: Abiba Biao

London Leake has spent all summer ready to dive into fourth grade writing classes at Spring Glen School. Now, she’s doing it with a new yellow bookbag —and a matching burst of self-confidence—in tow. Last Sunday, London was one of 200 New Haven, Hamden, and West Haven students to come through Black Lives Matter New Haven’s (BLMNH) seventh annual school supply drive, run with help from Greek groups Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, and Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity. The event started at one on Edgewood Avenue and Brownell Street, and lasted for hours, welcoming families with book bags and school supplies for the new school year. BLMNH co-founder Sun Queen, who has led organizing efforts for years, said that events like the drive are meant to ease the burden of a new school year, which can quickly become expensive for parents.