Meet the 21-year-old activist and student who is relentlessly fighting for equality and shaping the BLM movement.
From Print Issue 3: Community.
If I could only use one word to describe Nupol Kiazolu, it would be resilient. Watching her fearlessly go from one frontline to another, traveling across the country from Kentucky to Maryland amidst a pandemic, it is clear that Nupol is willing to risk her life for a greater cause. In Louisville, where EMT Breonna Taylor was murdered by police, Nupol spent days organizing and rallying. As she was protesting to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, Nupol was arrested and detained. With each hardship; however, Nupol is unfazed. Upon her release, Nupol wrote on Instagram, “Although I am physically exhausted, I am NOT BROKEN OR SHAKEN! […] This arrest has given me a new sense of purpose. I am going to go HARDER for Breonna!” Nupol’s relentlessness and drive for justice are boundless, marking the strength of a leader and a hope that is anything but complacent.
Nupol’s arrest in Louisville was not the first time she faced discipline for peaceful protest. When Trayvon Martin was murdered in 2012, Nupol was angry and decided to hold a silent protest at her middle school. She came to school wearing a hoodie that had the message “Do I look suspicious?” taped to her back and held Skittles and iced tea in her hands, which is what Trayvon had in his hands at the time of his murder. The next day, Nupol was written up for suspension by her history teacher. Luckily, Nupol’s principal gave her a chance to present a case to defend why she did not need to face punishment. At the time, Nupol was only 12-years-old but came back well-prepared, citing the landmark Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, which clearly states that students have a right to protest on school grounds. Not only was her principal dumbfounded by her preparedness, but when she left his office, Nupol walked out to a cafeteria full of people wearing hoodies, with the same message taped to their backs — in solidarity with her and Travyon Martin. “At that moment, I knew that being an activist and organizer was my calling,” Nupol expresses. Nupol never allowed herself to be shuttered by authorities who were in the wrong. Even as a young teen, Nupol challenged opposition with resilience, guided by her core principles. As a 21-year-old now, Nupol’s activism has continued to soar.
Nupol Kiazolu is currently a student at Hampton University, the president of Black Lives Matter Greater New York, the CEO of the Vote 2000 campaign, and fundamentally, a global leader and activist. Having been the president of BLM Greater NY, which is a separate organization from the national Black Lives Matter organization, for almost two years, Nupol organizes various events and protests on the frontlines and behind-the-scenes. She serves as the face of the cause, speaking to press and public groups about their mission. Before becoming the president of the entire organization, Nupol had been the president of the Youth Coalition of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, an organization that empowered young people across the tri-state area to engage in activism and leadership roles.
Following George Floyd’s murder, Nupol has actively participated in and led rallies and protests across the country. She describes her experience on the frontlines as “unique, inspiring, dangerous.” As a young Black woman, she is not immune to the plight inextricable, thus far, from her identity. Citing Oluwatoyin Salau, the 19-year-old Black female activist who was killed in Florida in June, Nupol is definitely aware of the dangers she faces — again, underscoring the duty of everyone else, as allies and supporters, to do their part in protecting Black women. In fact, Nupol was nearly killed in Minnesota by police. After over 16 hours of peaceful protesting and organizing, Nupol was faced with police, who did not wait to ask her questions or speak to her first, and immediately drew out their guns and said, “Stop at once or we’ll shoot.” To this anecdote, Nupol adds, “I haven’t had time to process what happened yet.” Nupol, so engaged in her determination to fight, refuses to let anything get in the way of that mission. She says, “If they were to shoot me, I would’ve went out trying.”
The danger and fear interlaced in Nupol’s advocacy cannot be overlooked. The circumstances grounding her activism are emblematic of society’s irresponsibility — for failing to protect Black people and Black women as they continue to fight for their lives. At the same time, Nupol is extremely empowered by the collectivity and community of these protests: “Seeing Black people and people from all walks of life come together in the name of Black liberation and justice. Being on the frontlines…all across the country, I’ve been able to witness firsthand what it’s like when the community comes together for a cause that would push our people forward.” Particularly, Nupol has encountered many young people and Gen-Z on the frontlines, taking charge and leading the movement, showing her how so many of her peers are working towards a better future. To young people in particular, Nupol expresses that “your age should not be a restriction on how you use your voice […] Young people are fully capable of articulating their experiences in this world and how it impacts them and people are seeing that now more than ever, with the leadership Gen-Z has taken and carried out.”
Nupol emphasizes; however, that the momentum of protests following George Floyd’s death is simply the beginning. It is not a trend, but a movement. In our daily lives, we must continue to amplify Black voices, rally around Black people, and push this movement forward. While Nupol is active on the frontlines of nationwide protests, she emphasizes that there is not just one way to be an activist and an organizer. People can contribute to the movement in various ways, including donating, signing petitions, and continuing to become educated on issues of race. Because ultimately, the fight and the advocacy for social justice cannot be done alone. Nupol says, “this is all about community, about coalescing with one another.”
In addition to mobilizing on the frontlines, Nupol is the CEO and founder of a national campaign called Vote 2000 that encourages young marginalized people to vote. Projected to relaunch during fall 2020, in anticipation of the national presidential election, Nupol works to educate marginalized communities on the civic and electoral process and helps them register to vote. In 2018, Nupol partnered with the non-profit DoSomething.org through which she was able to get over 100,000 young people to register to vote.
Nupol is clear on how she hopes to continue her journey. After graduating from Hampton University with a degree in political science on a pre-law track, Nupol plans on going to law school to become a civil rights and constitutional rights attorney. From there, she is determined to enter politics as an elected official. For Nupol, her goals are clear. Faced with adversity, Nupol makes it known that she will always fight resiliently.
Follow Nupol on Instagram and Twitter.
Buy a digital copy of Issue 3: Community here and Print here.
