HARRISBURG — "Closed mouths don't get fed."
Growing up, Jacquetta Hunter heard that statement repeatedly from her mother.
But now as an adult, she realizes the truth in her mother's words.
"If we want something, we have to actually tell people," Hunter said. "If you don't tell people what you want, then nothing is going to get done."
Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed, a new group formed by some Harrisburg area college graduates, held a protest Saturday on the Capitol steps, spreading the word of the need for education to improve race relations.
A new group she organized with her friends is now using the words of Hunter's mother as a slogan, as they take to the streets to spread the word around Harrisburg about race relations.
"One thing they assume about African-American people is that we're uneducated," said Hunter, who is pursuing a master's degree at Millersville University.
That assumption is incorrect, she said, pointing out that most of her friends are in college or are recent graduates, and using their advancements in higher education, and a touch of social media, Hunter, 25, organized Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed's first protest, which took place Saturday on the steps of the state Capitol.
She took to Twitter and Facebook to get the word out through friends, followers, college groups and churches. While only a half dozen or so showed up for the first event on a cold December afternoon, she's hoping this is the beginning of something bigger.
In light of the recent events in Ferguson, Mo., as well as the Eric Garner death in New York, spreading the word peacefully and from the point of view of educating others is more important than ever, she said.
And her mother's words, she hopes, will educate not just the individual, but change society.
Hunter's friend, Shaunice Whitaker, 22, is enrolled in the nursing program at Harrisburg Area Community College. She said she came to the event Saturday, because she wants to see change. Knowing how many young, black men she has in her own family, she is concerned for their well-being.
"It's scary with the times that we live in now," Whitaker said. "We have to teach our kids to be fearful of the police. This has to end."
That's not a good place for a society to be, she said, which is what inspired her to be proactive in raising awareness, she said.
It was cold, but the group still stood on the Capitol steps with signs bearing slogans like "Black Lives Matter." The occasional passing car honked its horn, which they greeted with a cheer.
Stephen King, 25, a graduate of Morgan State University in Baltimore, said he saw the event listed on Facebook and decided to attend, wearing his school colors and a hat with his fraternity's letters.
"There's an issue going on here in America," King said. "It helps when some of us come together and show some support for the cause and stand up for our fair and equal rights."
He said this protest is a positive way to spread awareness, even if they're just a small group.
"The justice system is broken, and it needs to be fixed," King said. "If this is just one way that we can get the message out, then by all means, I'm glad we're doing it."
And education, he said, is the key.
Hunter's mother's saying, "Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed," can apply to education, as well. When people have closed minds, Hunter said they are shutting themselves off from learning, and by learning about others, changes can be made, even if it's just one small protest on a cold Saturday afternoon at a time.
"We just have to get the word out and continue to be proactive and positive," Hunter said.