ICYMI: Natick Resident Films Rally Against Racism

NATICK, MA — Since he left his native Ivory Coast, West Africa, 11 years ago, Zadi Zokou has lived in Natick. A filmmaker, Zokou was one of many residents and neighbors who attended a rally against racism in Natick in November.

Prompted by several events, namely a possible hate crime where a resident reported receiving a series of threatening letters on his doorstep two days in a row, the rally attracted a passionate crowd and many speakers.

"This rally was prompted by the events described at the beginning of the video," Zokou told Patch, "i.e. a white man who received threats because a black man lived in his house. So this rally was a way of showing solidarity to this gentleman, and more broadly to show that Natick doesn't condone racism, xenophobia, homophobia and any sort of bigotry and prejudice."

Though he is a filmmaker, Zokou did not attend the event with the intention of filming, but ultimately, felt compelled to pull out his phone to take some footage.

As a black man living in Natick," he said, "I thought that I had to take part of this rally and protest. But with the power of the first speeches, I couldn't contain myself from filming. I am a filmmaker and two months prior to this event, I covered a similar event in Wellesley that I posted on Youtube. So although I didn't bring my equipment, I had my cellphone, and I used it for the video."

What his video here:

Photo courtesy Zadi Zokou