In reaction to a particularly tumultuous time of police violence enacted against Black Americans that saw a Baton Rouge Police Department officer kill Alton Sterling and a St. Anthony (Minnesota) Police Department officer kill Philando Sterling, President Barack Obama held a town hall last night (July 14). Called “The President and the People: A National Conversation,” the event focused on race relations, policing and criminal justice.

The town hall, which you can watch below, brought together the families of people who were killed by police officers, as well as the survivors of police officers who died in the line of duty. Sterling’s 15-year-old son, Cameron was there, as was Castile’s finance, Diamond Reynolds, via satellite.

Erica Garner—who has devoted herself to advocating for Black lives since the day her father, Eric Garner, was choked to death on tape by New York Police Department officer Daniel Pantaleo—was also in the room. The New York Times reports that Garner left her seat after the taping, yelling that she had been used to bring attention to the event and denied her promised opportunity to address the president:

“I was railroaded!” Ms. Garner shouted, noting that the event fell two years after her father’s death. “That’s what I have to do? A Black person has to yell to be heard?” Later, Ms. Garner took to Twitter to complain that tough questions had been banned. She condemned the event as a “farce” that was “nothing short of full exploitation of Black pain and grief.” “They shut out ALL real and hard questions,” Ms. Garner added, calling the exchange “a sham.”

Garner was later granted a private audience with the president, but she told BuzzFeed that she felt like she had to be “belligerent just to be heard.”

From Garner: “I’m tired and I’m exhausted. I’ve exhausted every avenue trying to pursue justice for my dad. I’ve spoken to a rep from the DOJ. I’ve spoken on panels—whoever you can think of I’ve spoken with them. I’m tired of having this conversation. I’m tired. And I think the only way do this is to shut shit down. That’s not what I wanted to do or intend to do, but it’s a shame that I have to be loud and act ‘ghetto’ to get my point across. But I will be not be used and I will not be silent.”

That statement resonated with social activist Feminista Jones, and she reacted via the following stream of tweets, ultimately encouraging Black women to post about times they lifted their own voices.

Erica Garner said she had to be belligerent to be heard.



I have a thread somewhere about Black girls/women and the “loud” stereotype — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

When I read that from her, it resonated for me.



When I hear #LoudBlackGirls, I think of how many of us are routinely silenced by violence — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

I think about how we silence ourselves to avoid the “Angry Black Woman” stereotype when we really just need to be heard #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

I think of how BW are spoken over by non-Black ppl AND by men, all of the time and how, over time, the rage builds up #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

Every unwanted sexual advance or negative portrayal in media. We silence ourselves until we can do nothing but scream #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

The stress of adhering to expectations of silence is killing us. Have you seen our health stats? It isn’t all abt food. #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

I heartily encourage Black girls and women to be as loud and vocal and “ratchet” and “ghetto” and whatever else they say #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

And Erica’s frustration spoke to me. I’ve been there. I’ve been silenced. Ignored. Pushed aside as though I didn’t matter #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

So I’m here for it. I’m here for Black women shouting whatever is on their minds. I’m here for high volume convos #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

Zora said if you’re silent about your pain they’ll hurt you and say you enjoyed it. That was for us #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

I’m interested in hearing from Black women about when (if) they found their individual voice& how they use it.



Share with #LoudBlackGirls — Feminista Jones (@FeministaJones) July 15, 2016

And so they did, as Black women around the world began posting about the life-affirming times they used their voices to speak the truth. Follow the #LoudBlackGirls hashtag (and be careful not to feed the trolls).

Watch the full town hall below.