Solidarity march across campus attracts student supporters

Solidarity march across campus draws student support

Dozens join the Friday afternoon event in conjunction with the March on Washington
Published: August 28, 2020
SU Student Association president Justine Hastings leads a group of students on a solidarity march through campus on Friday.
SU Student Association president Justine Hastings leads a group of students on a solidarity march through campus on Friday.

Dozens of students and faculty marched across campus late Friday afternoon as the culminating event for daylong effort to show solidarity with the national March on Washington.

Hosted by the Student Association,  the march was proceeded by a televised screening of the march in Washington, D.C., as well as a speech from Spike Lee that were both streamed on the Quad. Most participants complied with SA’s requests to adhere to COVID-19 prevention measures, such as wearing a mask and maintaining six feet of distance at all times.

Led by Office of Student Activities associate director Tim Johnson and SA president Justine Hastings, supporters departed the Quad and trekked across campus for 30 minutes chanting and carrying signs and flags in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been actively protesting racial discrimination and police brutality this summer. The shooting of Jacob Black in Kenosha, Wis., earlier this week has sparked another wave of protests.

Hastings led calls for actions such as “Black Lives Matter” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, racist cops have got to go,” among others. Throughout the march, students also chanted the names of Black people who have died at the hands of the police recently such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

Friday’s march fell on the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington at which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.

Students marched Friday in solidarity with the March on Washington, a day of action in response to the issue of racial injustice and police violence as well as the 57th anniversary of the original march at which Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech.
Students marched Friday in solidarity with the March on Washington, a day of action in response to the issue of racial injustice and police violence as well as the 57th anniversary of the original march at which Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech.