SAN ANTONIO — It’s been 10 months since Kimiya Factory led the largest march of 2020 in San Antonio days after George Floyd’s death.
“I’m in awe. I’m in awe that every day that I get to live, that I get to see another day because it means there’s still work that needs to be done,” Factory said.
She watched a video of herself during the May 30 march. In the video, Factory is sitting on a platform with a microphone in her hand, and her knuckles tucked under her chin.
“My energy level is... that wore me out already,” Factory says in the video.
After watching the video she expressed how she felt.
“It was the beginning of a new life,” Factory says.
This new chapter in her life led to her creating the Black Freedom Factory, a data driven organization that aims to create equity in San Antonio.
“We want people to see that the numbers show that there is blatant racism and oppression in San Antonio,” Factory says.
The Black Freedom Factory also aims to tackle voter suppression by encouraging people to vote. They are also educating the community about Prop B, which wouldn’t allow San Antonio police to have bargaining power. It will be on the ballot this spring.
“We need more representation on city council, there are still instances of police brutality in San Antonio,” Factory said. “Families that have not seen justice for their lost family members.”
Factory says the Black community is constantly reminded of their trauma during events like the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
“George Floyd is not on trial for murder and the fact that the media and society has made his life a spectacle and it’s how Black narratives are taken and ran with in this country,” Factory says.
Factory she hopes Black Freedom Factory will help the Black community move forward.
“As long as I exist, scratch that, as long as the youth exist, then we are doing something,” Factory says.