A Movement in the Valley
Protesters with The Valley of Change cross Ventura Blvd outside the Sherman Oaks Galleria in Sherman Oaks, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (Michael Goldsmith / The Corsair)
When Latora Green first decided to protest outside the Sherman Oaks Galleria on May 31, she couldn’t have anticipated how her life was about to change. Black Lives Matter protests were happening all throughout the country in response to George Floyd’s death at the hands of police officers, with many happening in different neighborhoods of L.A. “I came out here [to protest] when it happened to George Floyd, but I didn’t stop,” said Green. “It’s bigger than that...I did it because it keeps happening. It’s sad, it’s disgusting, and we’re saying ‘enough is enough’.”
Latoria Green wears a mask reading “Vote” as she holds up a sign stating “End Police Brutality” in front of the Sherman Oaks Galleria. “Rain, shine, if it’s hot as hell, you will always see me out.” (Carolyn Burt / The Corsair)
She has continued to take action and as of Election Day has been protesting at the Galleria with her nonprofit “The Valley of Change” for 157 consecutive days. “I’m tired of Black people getting killed unjustly and police brutality. I’m tired of it. And it’s been continuing to go on for hundreds of years...I got tired, you know.” said Green. “We have to vote in the elections coming up. We’ve got to change policies and vote racism out. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Her perseverance has inspired many throughout the Sherman Oaks community to take action and “Show up and show out.”
Having recently been laid off from her job as a human resource specialist due to the pandemic, the local San Fernando Valley resident decided to make her stand on the northwest corner of Sepulveda Blvd and Ventura Blvd. With years spent volunteering for causes such as Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Skid Row neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles, Green decided to take the next step and establish her own charitable non-profit organization. She co-founded The Valley of Change soon after, along with fellow activist Reggie Watkins, for the purpose of “advocating for policy solutions, community representation, widespread education, and narrative change to accelerate social change and sustainably construct a fair, equitable society,” according to their website.
In addition to their daily eight-hour-long protests, they have focused on feeding the homeless and handing out essential health kits during the pandemic to those who would otherwise go without. To keep the momentum, the Valley of Change also will host events such as a candlelight vigil for Breonna Taylor and a Skate Against Hate protest to take place on the evening of the Presidential Election.
Green also advocates the importance in voting, and in the months leading up to the election has helped many register to vote. “Don’t give up. We’ve got to keep fighting and pushing. Stay motivated…[Voting] matters right now. Act like your life depends on it,” said Green.
Green’s made it clear that she has no plans of stopping her activism anytime soon, stating, “I’m going to continue. For my husband, for my ancestors, for my son, for my brother. It’s bigger than us. It’s throughout the country. We have to do better.”
Will Green protests at the Sherman Oaks Galleria on Sept. 28, 2020. (Romeo Kuhn / The Corsair)
