American University student protesters block traffic in Bender tunnel to demand support for students of color (University grants them a "sanctuary space" in which no White people are allowed)
Student demonstrators blocked traffic in the tunnel of Bender Arena on Friday to demand that the University take specific actions to support people of color after the May 1 hate crime that targeted Taylor Dumpson and AU’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
The demonstrators demanded three key actions from AU administrators, according to a flyer distributed at the protest:
- the creation of a “sanctuary” space for people of color in the Bridge Cafe for the remainder of the spring semester
- extensions for students of color on their final exams and no penalties for finals taken after the racist incident
- a separate investigation team of “non-biased expert contractors” that can investigate cases of racism and discrimination brought against AU
Provost Scott Bass arrived at the scene of the protest about 90 minutes after it began. He accepted the three demands and said he would meet with student leaders on Monday.
The exchange between Bass and protesters came just hours after the University announced it had deployed AU police officers to protect Dumpson, the student government president, after a white supremacist group encouraged its followers to troll her online .
Demonstrators march from Katzen Arts Center to Bender tunnel
Protesters said they would “occupy all space” and not leave until all demands were met. Freshman Jaha Knight read the list of demands after leading a call-and-response with the crowd gathered in the tunnel, chanting “we can’t breathe,” a reference to the death of Eric Garner at the hands of police.
“These are the things that we have demanded from the University because of the oppression and discrimination and the hate we have faced, not just in these current events, but every day on this campus,” Knight said.
Students gathered at Katzen Arts Center at 2 p.m. and started marching to the Bender tunnel around 2:30 p.m. Once the demonstrators arrived, students split up into two groups, one of which sat down in a line to block the road in front of the UPS store. The other group stood in front of the entrance to the Bender Arena parking garage. Public Safety cars arrived within an hour to block off the road.
Some students held posters that read “This is a peaceful protest” and “Allies protect Black and Brown Bodies, especially Black women!” Other protesters wore tape on their mouths bearing the hashtag #ItsInTheAir, a reference to the racism they feel is prevalent on campus.
“Nooses are enough. And we need to be tired,” sophomore and Black Student Alliance president Ma’at Sargeant said at the demonstration. “We need to be tired and we need to know that we are valued and that we value ourselves enough to stand up for this.”
Students chanted, “This tunnel is closed!” and “Call Kerwin!” Several demonstrators expressed anger at the University’s response to acts of racism on campus.
“Do I not pay? Do I not pay for tuition?” junior Romayit Cherinet said to the crowd. “Do I come here and try as best as possible to ignore these racist ass white people? To ignore the microaggressions every single day?”
Provost Scott Bass arrives at scene of protest
Over 90 minutes after the demonstration began, Bass arrived and addressed the students gathered in the tunnel. At first, Bass was unaware of the students’ demands, but said he had come from a meeting with other administrators where they had been planning a “number of responses” to previous student requests.
“There are a number of things that we can do in the administration, both in terms of the curriculum, in terms of the faculty, in terms of the kinds of centers that exist on campus,” Bass said.
Bass announced that the University had signed a contract with Ibram X. Kendi , an author and historian at the University of Florida, to establish an anti-racism center at AU. Kendi is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.”
“There’s nothing more important, in terms of my administration, than being a multicultural campus,” Bass told the crowd.
Following his remarks, Bass was given a list of the demonstrators’ demands and returned to address the crowd minutes later. He agreed to establish the Bridge Cafe as a “sanctuary space” for students of color, to give students support in asking for extensions on their final exams and to allow other groups, such as the NAACP, to investigate the hate crime and other racist acts at AU.
“We are interested in getting to the bottom of the issue, and the sooner we can do that, the better,” Bass said. “But I will also say that that doesn’t stop our commitment to do more. This is just a minimum...This is not just one incident. It’s a deeper issue in our community.”
Bass said he looked forward to meeting with black student leaders on Monday to discuss more student concerns about racism at AU.
As a student organizer announced that Bass had met their demands, students began to move away from the entrance of the Bender parking garage, allowing cars to leave for the first time in over an hour. The demonstrators’ celebrations echoed off the walls of the tunnel as they chanted, “We are AU! We are AU!”
http://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2017/05/american-university-student-protesters-block-traffic-in-bender-tunnel
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Martin Luther King must be rolling over in his grave right now as his lifetime of work has been completely dismantled by the fascist snowflake liberals of today. He had a dream where everyone would be treated equally, based on the content of their character NOT the color of their skin. But leave it to liberals to bring back segregation and try to make it mainstream, demonizing anyone who doesn’t jump on board with their insanity.
That pretty much sums it up! Does anyone wonder what would happen if some white folks demanded a space in which no black people were allowed? Is there a Liberal in the house that can explain why some forms of racism are acceptable? How do 2 wrongs add up to a right in this case?
Those "students of color" are simply racists. Their manufactured grievances and discriminatory safe spaces will just feed the racist narrative of their opposite number. Good job, snowflakes.
Nothing like rolling back race relations 50 years while crying about discrimination...
Just a point of reference for you 96....The invoking of MLK into this seems to fly in the face of what actually happened to MLK...
He was assassinated by a white racist...
Do you think he would accept racism from or towards any race? Accept segregation?
I don't think that he would, since he fought for equality 96. And for that he was killed.
Here is an article showing that there is a heck of a lot more to this than this article states.
You might want to give it a read.
And another
Regardless of WHY the protests occurred is there any doubt in your mind that segregation is NOT the answer?
''Regardless of WHY the protests occurred is there any doubt in your mind that segregation is NOT the answer?''
WTF are you talking about 96. Your article was a bias one sided BS article. The links provided showed the whole story.
Are you saying that it's ok to harass blacks students without them protesting?
As for your question, were did I say that segregation is the answer.
It is really becoming an issue that will have a very bad ending. This morning, I read where black Harvard graduates will have a separate graduation ceremony. This will not replace the graduation ceremony for ALL. How can this be tolerated?
Liberal racist intolerance among college "educated" snowflakes. The left sees no problem with this particular type of discrimination or segregation.
I have taken the time to read and find additional information on both of these events. It seems that the black students at AU have been facing undue prejudice on campus. That is not acceptable. The FBI has even been called in trying to determine if this is just a hate crime or terrorism. That is not being a snowflake. One should not feel threatened at school.
On the other hand, the black Harvard graduation, is a disgrace. What's next? One for each ethnic group? Will we have Armenian Graduation? Chinese? This is absurd.
You can't lump every college event into "liberal snowflake/racist", to fit an agenda. The facts speak for themselves. In story #1, there is a legit gripe. In case #2 over the top pandering.
The students in the Blacks only Graduation at Harvard will also participate in the main Graduation. Their Blacks only Graduation is more of a social gathering and many universities are doing them now. Harvard also has a Hispanics only one and has had for awhile. They join the main one also.
I'm sorry Randy, I am not digging this one. It is a way to segregate and be with one's own kind and it is wrong in a university setting, where everyone is supposed to be each other's equals. Reverse that, and have a white only graduation and see the reaction, and btw, rightfully so. You can't have it both ways.
I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I don't have a problem with it, especially considering how small of a population Blacks and Hispanics are at Harvard. They tend to get lost in the sea of White, so if they want to have a little gathering before their final graduation (and remember, ALL races are invited as guests (I'd go)) then I just don't see the harm.
Besides if you had a Whites only Graduation before Graduation then 95% of the graduating class would show up and as long as the gathering audience was open to ALL races as guests, then what the hell, I'd go. Be one hell of a good party! BUT, I am NOT buying the BEER!
I think this is all being blown way out of proportion. It's just a pre-graduation social event. That's all and nothing more. So hey, bring some potato salad to pass and join in!
Segregation and bigotry are not acceptable even if it involves black "students".
Randy - My issue isn't that black students want to celebrate their race and ethnicity. My issue is that they call out others when they wish to do the same. That begs the question of do they really want to be equal or are they asking for special treatment? They can't have it both ways without be viewed as adding to the racial problems.
My issue is that they call out others when they wish to do the same.
Where have they said others can not? There is and has been a Hispanic graduation already and the students there attend the full graduation also. It is a SOCIAL EVENT!!! ALL ARE INVITED OF EVERY RACE TO ATTEND!!!
just went and took a look at harvards own site, 47% of just under30k students at white , just over 20% are identified as latino ,Hispanic, black , african American, or this that didn't identify ethnic origin, smaller percentages did for NA and others the highest ethnic minority percentage is Asian.
whats telling is 72 percent of the student body is on financial assistance.
and the student to teacher ratio is 8 to 1, that's a lot of faculty
Randy,
Segregation is racism in it's purest form.
Perrie,
I pose you the same question as Kavika.
Regardless of WHY the protests occurred is there any doubt in your mind that segregation is NOT the answer?
Regardless of WHY the protests occurred is there any doubt in your mind that segregation is NOT the answer?
96,
I keep posting the same part of an article that it seems to me that no one is reading. There is no segregation going on at AU. The university made it clear that these "safe spaces" if you want to call them that, are open to the entire student body. The point of them is to make sure that the students are not harassed, but anyone of any race can go there. That isn't discriminatory.
I actually just saw that in a post Kav put up, however segregated graduation is just as bad.
96,
The graduation you are talking about happened at Harvard, not AU. Your article is about AU and it's facts are faulty.
But I agree with you about Harvard, and have stated that many times already. I don't believe in separate graduations. It is racist.
It's not racist. You need a higher standard to show racism by minority groups.
Segregation is racism in it's purest form. It's not OK or helpful for any race.
But I agree with you about Harvard, and have stated that many times already. I don't believe in separate graduations. It is racist.
You could not possibly be more wrong. The students also attend the full graduation. What they are having is more of a social event then anything else and everyone of every race is invited to attend the festivities. That is not racism in any manner at all. If only Black people were allowed to attend then it would be racist!
"You could not possibly be more wrong. The students also attend the full graduation. What they are having is more of a social event then anything else and everyone of every race is invited to attend the festivities. That is not racism in any manner at all. If only Black people were allowed to attend then it would be racist!"
Randy,
Again, segregation is the purest form of racism. Don't believe me? What if they start having white only graduation ceremonies? Come on now Randy, It's OK, don't get upset, it's not racism because everyone can attend! Just like you said!
Also some Universities have started having a separate LGBTQ Graduation and those students attend the full graduation too. Everyone is invited to those graduations and festivities the same as with the Black and Hispanic ones. I don't see any difference at all. Is the LGBTQ Community racist now too? Like YOU said, you can't have it both ways.
I'm not going to read the article. Tired of reading articles that ooze white grievance. White people have dominated vast parts of North America for going on 200 years (400 years if you consider the period European settlement was confined to the eastern part of the country), most of which was spent mistreating people of color. Now there is a sort of payback which is tormenting sensitive whites in the form of "political correctness" . get the fuck over it white men. Sausage is being made.
I'm not going to read the article.
Well la-di-da, John isn't going to read this article. LOL
I've seen it all before Six. I've seen it all before. Right here as a matter of fact.
If you don't read the article but comment anyway, Comment removed for CoC violations [ph]
Why? It's the very definition.
You can't call a member names.
You just called him a member. That is the word I use when I call someone a dick. Just sayin.
Sorry Perrie, but you know what an incurable smart ass I am.
I guess you missed the part where we don't segregate anymore. Civil Rights Movement, bussing children from one school to another to satisfy desegregation, and violence all In the name of "we don't segregate our people by race". A wrong was righted and it appears some want to reverse this......well, it ain't gonna happen!
It is common knowledge you don't waste your time on facts that don't fit your narrative but thanks for pointing it out again.
John - by ignoring these grievances you are ignoring why Trump won. Whether it's real or imagined there is a belief that society bends over backwards to accommodate minorities and some of these accommodations infringe on whites.
I don't need to read this article to know that PJ.
For some of these guys, that is all they think about.
I misunderstood your aversion to the article. Sorry...... :0(
Get a room.
Did you mean "Get a broom"? mistakenly leaving out a letter? LOL
The demonstrators’ celebrations echoed off the walls of the tunnel as they chanted, “We are AU! We are AU!”
And we need to add "you're not !" ...
That this is acceptable explains a lot about the state of the country.
More racism from the left.
If any of you actually read the links that Kavika posted you would have found this:
The bananas carried messages, such as "Harambe bait" and a reference to
The reference to ''Harambe'' is a gorilla that was killed when a child fell into it's area at the zoo.
The reference and connection is quite clear.
The ''AKA Free'' is a reference to a black sorority. Again the meaning is quite clear to anyone with a brain.
Seems like minority bigotry if a segregated graduation is employed.
Are you ok with the Daily Stromer trolling the black student president or the nooses with bananas in them or the ''AKA Free'' or Harambe Bait'' signs, Cerenkov?
Seems like the racism isn't from the black students at all, once the actual events are known.
Hope that the FBI get's scum.
I think there is confusion. There is no "segregated" graduation at AU. They are upset over disgusting overt threats made to them. The mock graduation is at Harvard.
There is no mock or segregated graduation at Harvard. They ALL attend the actual Graduation a few weeks later like good little WHITE students! It is a social event and all are invited! Like a family reunion of a race. It is their right to have a ceremony for themselves and their families and anyone of any race can attend as a guest and enjoy the festivities afterwards! I can NOT believe how you are reacting to this harmless thing!
Again the meaning is quite clear to anyone with a brain.
You must remember how some of the people you are talking to on here are vis-à-vis brain, Kavika.
Randy.. that is really skating close to skirting. Knock it off.
Again Perrie, I understand discrimination was happening but two wrongs don't make a right and segregation by way of providing an area that some students of particular races are forbidden, is not the answer. Surely you realize the huge mistake the University has made in this decision.
96, stop with the BS claim about segregation...
From the university.
There are people here, and everywhere, who are fully invested in the idea that non whites, particularly blacks, are more racially prejudiced than whites. They will cling to every story that "proves" this, even after the story is debunked.
John,
I don't believe any race is more racist than any other. However, there are also many that think, and have even said "Black people can't be racist", which is probably the most ridiculously racist thing anyone could say. I don't really expect someone that is ashamed of their own race to understand this, so don't worry about it.
I am not ashamed of being white. I'm just way more advanced in this topic than you are. Being in a race relations forum for seven years got me there.
OK I didn't see the part where the University claims it is not segregation.
My daughter is graduation from college this Sunday. Of course I'll be there but unlike the west/east coast colleges (where the loons go), these young people have no frickin stupid safe zones, no special snowflakes or other inane PC garbage. They are here to learn and graduate.
My daughter is graduating this upcoming Tuesday, and there are no safe spaces and there is only one graduation.
"He agreed to establish the Bridge Cafe as a “sanctuary space” for students of color..."
Do the protagonists of this "movement" consider Chinese students to be "of colour" or are they the WRONG colour, and if so, where on campus is the "sanctuary space" for Chinese students to be? We must be fair, no?
Read the links I provided above for the real story on this Buzz.
Only certain minority populations (ethnic, religious, or sexual) are worthy of special rights in liberal ideology.
Buzz and Cernekov,
First of all these are not special rights. Everyone is allowed into these areas. They are just protected from harrassment. From the article:
''Only certain minority populations (ethnic, religious, or sexual) are worthy of special rights in liberal ideology.''
Liberal ideology, the right not to be harassed/intimidated/trolled/threatened by white supremacists.
Nice to know that you and your fellow travelers support discrimination, not surprising though Cerenkov.
Nice strawman. Your slurs are becoming repetitive.
Reverend Wright of Trinity United Church in Chicago, also known as the church where Obama attended, was a racist. He had parishioners pledge an allegiance to "black" values which were described in writing. The church was afrocentric, which to Wright meant racially oriented, and he preached Black Liberation Theology which was also race based.
A "black" graduation ceremony at a college does nothing like any of that, and harms no one.
Some of you need to get over yourselves.
A "black" graduation ceremony at a college does nothing like any of that, and harms no one.
I totally disagree. It sends a message of being exclusive based on race. The moment a specific race celebrates themselves, it leave the door open for other races to do the same thing. It is a double standard, and I oppose that. We are either all equals or not. Pick one.
When racism by whites is gone, the need for "black only" or "Asian only" or "American Indian only" will be gone.
Until that time, these other groups will continue to exist. "Black graduation" does no harm other than to people who distress at the thought that someone else has a "benefit" that they don't have.
"Black graduation" does no harm other than to people who distress at the thought that someone else has a "benefit" that they don't have.
Especially since people of every race are invited to attend! It is not restricted to Blacks only! If they restricted it to Black audience members and Blacks only at the gathering and festivities afterwards, then it would be racist. They don't, so it's not.
Not surprising to find BO frequented the most racist Chicago church. I wonder if it had anything to do with his ridiculous comments and speeches he made on the subject that helped to set us back about 30 years in race relations...
As that situation was investigated more and more, it became clear that Obama was not a frequent attendee at TUCC and was mainly using his membership there to do networking within the black community.
So sue him.
Oh so now he didn't really attend yet He chose the most racist church in Chicago "in order to build his network in the black community"? How telling. No surprise that you see no problem with it.
It is an event that is meant to be separate from the rest of the school. Separate but equal, something that MLK fought against. I don't care how this is couched, but that is what it is.
And if the white students did it, it would be called racism.
Let me put it a different way.
When Jews were finally allowed into most universities, they were thrilled to graduate with the rest of the university. They didn't a special symbolic ceremony on campus to celebrate that they could now go to school with the rest of the whites.
They didn't a special symbolic ceremony on campus to celebrate that they could now go to school with the rest of the whites.
They could if they wanted to now. Celebrate their heritage and faith. As long as it was open to everyone to attend, what's the problem? I'd go. This has been blown up WAY out of proportion! It's not a big deal!
"And if the white students did it, it would be called racism".
Congrats on completely ignoring the point of the post there Randy. Further displaying other wrongs still doesn't make it right.
In case you missed it Perrie:
Also some Universities have started having a separate LGBTQ Graduation and those students attend the full graduation too. Everyone is invited to those graduations and festivities the same as with the Black and Hispanic ones. I don't see any difference at all. Is the LGBTQ Community racist now too? Like YOU said, you can't have it both ways.
"Is the LGBTQ Community racist now too?"
If they are promoting segregation, no matter who the question is directed to the answer is still yes. Why is this so hard to comprehend?
"And if the white students did it, it would be called racism. "
in a nutshell
I would offer that it doesn't matter what word they want to use to describe this "safe place" or who is able to go to the "safe place". By designating ANY area you are thereby giving the other non "safe place" areas the go ahead to treat others poorly. EVERY area should be promoted as a "safe place". This is utterly ridiculous that we are now identifying areas where you can discriminate and areas that are safe and you can't discriminate.
In any event by designating areas you are promoting a certain behavior.