By CRYSTAL ROMAN
Ramapo College students, faculty and staff staged a die-in protest on Dec. 8 after the grand jury decisions to not indict police officers involved in the deaths of two unarmed men in Ferguson, MO. and Staten Island, N.Y.
Those involved in the protest laid down in silence on the second floor of the Student Center for four-and-a-half minutes to represent the four-and-a-half hours Michael Brown’s body lay on the street after he was shot. The demonstration, coordinated by the Black Student Union spokesperson, Kayla Strachan, aimed to take a stand on the injustices against people of color that have occurred throughout history. Approximately 60 people participated in the peaceful protest. Students, faculty and staff wore black clothes and many students wore names of those who died from police brutality and racial injustices in the past.
However, although there were many involved in the demonstration and a great amount of support from the community, the protest was met with hateful and racist comments on social media. The purpose of the protests is to raise awareness on the civil rights of Americans and to hold police accountable for their actions.
No Justice, No Peace
The protests began after the shooting and killing of a black and unarmed 18 year-old, Michael Brown. Brown was shot by Darren Wilson, a white police officer on August 9. Initially, protests began and remained in Ferguson, MO. Once the grand jury announced their decision of not indicting Wilson for the death of Brown, protests spread rapidly in several cities coordinated by the Ferguson National Response Network. Brown’s case is one of many that has lead to civil unrest and protests. Other fatal police encounters that happened this year are 12 year-old Tamir Rice of Cleveland OH., Akai Gurley of N.Y., and Eric Garner of Staten Island, N.Y.
“Hands up, don’t shoot,” “Shut it down,” and “I can’t breathe,”are just some of the few chants shouted day in and day out by activists. The #HandsUpWalkOut movement started by the Ferguson Action Group has also reached outside of the United States to London and Japan.
“It’s important to take a stand against racism and draw attention to the alarmingly disproportionate rate with which police kill young black men compared to young white men,” said Patricia Keeton, Communication Arts Professor of Ramapo.
According to FBI reports between 2010-2012, “young black men are 21 times as likely as their white peers to be killed by police”.
“It’s also important for all students of all races to understand that police violence has been sanctioned historically by political leaders and big businesses against any groups of people who organize in large numbers to protest conditions that threaten their ability to take care of their families or earn a living,” added Keeton. “It would be good for Ramapo to have a day-long teach-in in the spring to use this to reflect and learn more about these issues– faculty, staff, and especially students who are being affected by these events, to deepen our understanding of what is happening.”
Reactions from the Community
During the Ramapo protest, some students closed their eyes, held hands, or silently cried with heavy hearts. “That was less than five minutes,” said Hychia Troutt, Senior and President of Ebony Women for Social Change. “But it felt like forever.”
“Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart. To come together as a community, as the people of Ramapo; regardless of race, class, or gender,” said Strachan. “There are people from all walks of life here that came together for a common cause. If we can practice this solidarity in all aspects of life, we can change this world.”
But some members of the Ramapo community passed by the peaceful protest and criticized those who were involved. In the video of the protest, someone said that the protest is a “fire hazard. It’s stupid.”
Multiple participants overheard the comment made by the student.”Why is it such a problem for us to come together and stand for something we believe in?,” said Troutt. “I started crying after I heard that because we aren’t doing anything wrong. If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say it all.”
Students also expressed their opinions about the protest through Yik Yak, an app designed for college students that allows anyone in the area to submit a post of 200 characters anonymously within a 10 mile radius of the institution. The posts that are shown are of users close in proximity.
Students that took part of the protest responded to the criticism on social media such as Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #homesweetpo for the negative and racist comments to come up on the news feeds of the institution.
“It’s disgusting and appalling that people I go to school with people who actually think this way,” said Senior, Kadiann Afflick. “I hope this reaches the board and the school does something about it because it’s becoming ridiculous. It’s 2014, not the sixties.”
In Loving Memory
To remember those who have died, a silent vigil was held by the Black Student Union in their honor on Tuesday, December 9th at Friends Hall. About 30 students attended and they were were encouraged to share their sentiments on the events taking place nationally and locally. Students expressed anger, sadness, confusion, and more.
“I wish there was a way to get those who don’t understand to express how they really feel,” questioned Sheila Soriano, member of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Inc. “Maybe having a meaningful discussion could help. Maybe their perspectives will change.”
“That could have been me. That could have been any of us,” said Elvonney Poole, Senior and member of Brothers Making a Difference. “I’m tired of seeing men like me being killed unjustly. I want justice, not only for black lives, but for everyone. All lives matter.”