The atmosphere at the Community Unity Rally was charged with emotion as Odessa Primus, local artist, community orgqnizer and a representative from Sophia, took the stage to address the crowd. Her voice carried the weight of determination, frustration, and an unyielding call for justice.
“Melissa Atwell is not just a friend—she is my sister,” Primus declared, emphasizing the depth of their bond. “To come after my family is to come after me.” Her words resonated with the audience, reinforcing the urgent need for solidarity among the people. She denounced the persistent divisions among Guyanese citizens, urging the crowd to abandon partisan rivalries.
“We have got to stop this foolishness,” she stated emphatically. “It is time we recognize that the enemy is not each other—it is those who keep us divided.”
Primus recounted how many had urged her to “ease off” from the fight out of fear. But she dismissed such concerns, making it clear that fear would not silence her. “The God I serve has not given me a spirit of fear,” she affirmed, her voice unwavering.
Her speech took a more urgent turn as she called for concrete action. “When we leave here tonight, our mission must be clear: we need to secure our legal IDs, we need to ensure that we are ready to stand up when the time comes.” She warned that without unity and action, the working class and poor would continue to suffer under a system designed to exclude them.
Odessa’s closing remarks served as both a challenge and a promise. “We are not backing down. We will fight for as long as we need to fight.” She urged attendees to carry the message beyond the rally, to spread the call for justice far and wide.
The crowd responded with cheers of agreement, their voices joining hers in a chorus of resolve. Odessa Primus had not only spoken—she had ignited a movement.
