Upper Burrell teenager organizing public gathering decrying racism

Because Lower Burrell isn’t ethnically diverse — 97.6% of its residents are white — a local teenager wants to educate the community with “Rise Up Against Racism,” a free public gathering featuring speakers and food trucks from 5 to 7 p.m. July 12, at Kotecki Memorial Park in the city.

Trista Armstrong, 17, of Upper Burrell was inspired by Black Lives Matter protests; however, she is looking to make her “Rise Up Against Racism” to be less of a protest and more of an educational forum on the dynamics of racism.

Like others supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, Armstrong is inspired and outraged by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, at the hands of a police officer who knelt on his neck.

Protests have flared up across the country and the region.

But Armstrong, who is white, is not looking for violence or to indict police.

“I don’t want to focus on police brutality,” she said. “I want to honor the two police officers that lost their lives in our community,” said Armstrong, referring to Lower Burrell K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki and New Kensington Patrolman Brian Shaw.

“I want to use this event as a platform to let the speakers’ voices be heard to educate people in the community about what is going on in our nation and how people of color are treated,” she said.

One of the main speakers will be Jerry Jefferson, of World Overcomers Ministry, who spoke at the Black Lives Matter gathering in New Kensington that attracted more than 300 people June 13.

Armstrong is still developing her lineup of speakers.

City council members and police were invited to speak, according to Lower Burrell Councilman Chris Fabry.

Armstrong sought and received city permission for the event; council members have been helping Armstrong with the event.

“I admire her ambition to, at her age, tackle something so big,” said Fabry, who plans to speak.

“The primary concern with myself and council that this is a safe, positive event that unifies the community,” he said.