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Protest supports Mizzou, creates awareness

Students gather Monday in front of Bradley Hall as part of a solidarity protest with Mizzou and to advocate for diversity on campus. Photo by Chris Kwiecinski.
Students gather Monday in front of Bradley Hall as part of a solidarity protest with Mizzou and to advocate for diversity on campus. Photo by Chris Kwiecinski.

Students gathered in front of Bradley Hall on a cold, rainy Monday morning to support the students of color at Mizzou and to raise awareness about the lack of diversity on campus.

Students chanted phrases, including “BU4Mizzou,” while also sharing their individual experiences with racism at Bradley.

“I think [the event] was necessary,” Niyah Hudson, a freshman advertising major who attended the protest, said. “I’m glad people came out for the event. They brought up a lot of points about Bradley, especially the N*W*C* event that happened. I thought only a few people felt that way, but other people felt that way, too, so I really enjoyed this event.”

Charlene Figueroa, a junior sociology major, organized the protest.

“I think the events that happened at Mizzou really triggered a relation with [students],” she said. “It stimulated my sense that we cannot be silenced. By showing solidarity with Mizzou, not only are we stimulating conversation about the lack of diversity here at Bradley, but we’re also showing support. As you can tell, students of color primarily are stigmatized, and they are racialized and generalized simply because of the color of their skin.”

Figueroa said she came out of the protest wanting conversations about race to start on campus.

“I hope that there is discussion,” Figueroa said. “We can’t just stop here. We have to keep talking, we have to keep pushing the elephant into the room. We have to talk about race. Nothing will get solved unless we do, and with the events happening, it’s a small step, but I hope there are bigger outcomes of it.”

Brittany Shaw, a junior political science and philosophy double major, said she thought the event went well, but students need to start having those conversations to create a positive social environment.

“I believe if the people who were [at the protest] went to talk to some of their friends about it or just started a random conversation with some people, I think it would be successful,” Shaw said.

Immediately after the event, the anonymous social media site Yik Yak filled with comments and questions concerning the protest. They ranged from questions about the validity of the protest to debates on whether or not students get more financial aid based on race. Students in support of the protest also took to the site, defending their reasoning for the rally and asking why some people felt the need to post negative, offensive comments.

“I think they are ignorant enough to actually believe these things some of the time, but I also think it’s more of a, ‘Hey if I say this, what kind of response can I get from students of color.’ So, I don’t think it’s anything as bad as Mizzou, where people were actually being threatened and their safety was threatened.”

Figueroa said she strongly believes discussions are necessary for change to happen.

“With any change or social movement, it takes a lot of time, but it definitely has to happen,” Figueroa said. “By the little instances like today, with the discussion going on [Monday night] with the president [at Speak Up], with other events … it’s just one of those feedbacks that we have to keep pushing. It’s a daily struggle, and it is challenging, but we have to. We have to in order for it to happen.”

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