A Philadelphia couple becomes a symbol of hope and love during Black Lives Matter protest
Newlyweds Dr. Kerry Anne and Michael Gordon shared their first look on their wedding day with dozens of people demonstrating during a Black Lives Matter protest in Center City, Philadelphia.
Video Transcript
KERRY ANN GORDON: Lots of hope that were in people's hearts, and I think that's what people were really seeing in that moment when we shared our first looks. I had everything down to the T. We had our rings engraved, candies with our dates on them.
We were ahead of schedule with everything. Moving forward to February when we really started noticing that the pandemic was real, the challenge after that was really when would we rescheduled until? We could do next year.
MICHAEL GORDON: Next year, it just sounded like, next year, year.
KERRY ANN GORDON: So it was at that point that it was like, let's get married now. But then I was like, OK, I don't want city hall. We're going to have to do this in something that we can get good memories from.
MICHAEL GORDON: Our big concern was just to make sure that all of our family could get down there, knowing that people would be parking several blocks away on a hot day, family members that were bringing things in for us. But it all worked. We had the rings, suit, dress. We're going to make it happen.
KERRY ANN GORDON: The protesters started passing by, and of course, they're looking to their right. And they're just like, oh, there's a bride. You know, you look beautiful. Congratulations, Black Lives Matter. Black love matters, so people are chanting and chanting. You know, I'm just sending love. I'm kissing out to the crowd and stuff. I'm just so happy, because I wanted to be a part of the protests.
MICHAEL GORDON: I had not laid eyes on her yet that day and just start hearing applause and cheer. Something's happening. There's thousands of people coming down the parkway. I just hear it around the corner, and of course, I'm nosy. I just want to know what the heck is going on, but I couldn't go. Because Kerry was there, and I couldn't see her yet.
KERRY ANN GORDON: So as I'm experiencing this and the energy, the first thing I could think of is I need Mike to feel what I'm feeling. The love was so strong that I didn't want to be selfish about it, so I shouted out to get Mike.
MICHAEL GORDON: So I just walk up and as the crowd just splits for me, obviously, they knew I was headed towards Kerry. And I just see her there looking amazing, just beautiful as could be.
KERRY ANN GORDON: As he approaches me, I just can't help but just cry, you know? Because not only was I just so excited about our future together, the fact that we're going to get married. But then I'm thinking about the crowd, the energies, the people, the movement, or history. Everything became so overwhelming in my soul that it was just like a moment of release.
MICHAEL GORDON: It was just like, wow. I mean, it was just like an amazing moment. Seriously, as Kerry stated, you could really have felt the energy going through you. Our love that we had, their love that they had that day, and it all just came together.
KERRY ANN GORDON: I was proud of the people and the movement. Everyone came together, looking and searching for love. And when they saw us, they displayed that. This is beautiful. And the most important thing you have is the love for each other, and now, the love of everyone around you.
