2020 Gumbo Final - Book - Page 13
Story: Catherine Zeilman
Photo: Catherine Zeilman
Design: Catherine Carpenter
m
embers of the LSU community rallied together
June 3rd for a demonstration of solidarity for the
black community in the Quad. Students, alumni,
faculty and staff stood united, many dressed
head-to-toe in black, as they listened to the
goals and personal experiences of members
of the black community on campus. Black Out
LSU hosted the peaceful protest in response
to the recent U.S. police killings of black
people including George Floyd in Minneapolis,
Minn and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky. The
campaign was created in 2015 in an effort to
speak out against racial injustices in the country.
Participants dressed in black every Wednesday
to raise awareness. Instagram posts from @
BlackOutLSU encouraged all attendees to wear
face masks and practice social distancing while
in attendance to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
The event’s lead organizer and president of the
LSU chapter of the NAACP Cambryn Crier said
the two main goals of the protest were for their
voices to be heard and their demands to be met.
“We just want justice, we want equality and we
want our lives to matter,” Crier said.
Organizers thanked protesters for coming out
and urged them to take more action. The leaders
shared a list of several initiatives for students
to take part in and promised to ensure these
changes are made. The initiatives ranged from
petitioning to increase the ratio of minority
professionals in every academic area, to
lobbying for more funding for minority programs
and departments. LSU Interim President
Tom Galligan addressed the crowd using a
megaphone. Tired of the lack of progress, he
said, he made a pledge to take action for as long
as he holds his position as interim president. “I’m
64,” Galligan said. “This has been happening
my entire life. And every time I think it gets
better, it happens again. We’re here because it’s
got to stop. We’ve got to do something about
it,” The place to start is on campus, Galligan
said. He encouraged students to communicate
their frustrations and communicate with others.
“Black lives matter. That’s a true statement. It’s a
humanitarian statement.” Galligan said. Student
Kalvin Morris told the crowd he is grateful for
the support shown but tired of the lack of true
action. He asked his classmates for their support
outside of the rallies.
LSU faculty service member Mona Mahgoub
said she was slightly nervous about the protest
on campus due to the looting of stores and
businesses she’s heard about in other cities
following protests. “I don’t want it to happen
here,” Mahgoub said. “I am in fear to go out.”
Two LSUPD officers stood toward the entrance
of Middleton Library but remained largely out of
sight.
History sophomore Chandler Clegg showed his
support by wearing all black and holding a sign
which read “white supremacy is the virus.” He
said he will continue to peacefully protest until
his goal of equality is reached. This time, he
says, he thinks it will be different.“You usually
don't see protests this wide scale, everywhere,”
Clegg said. “Everyone is angry. I don’t think it's
just gonna die down. We can't just go back to
normal after this.”
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