Co-written with Kayla Smith.
Western Carolina University’s Student Government Association hosted a Black Lives Matter march on campus to honor those who lost their lives to police brutality on Tuesday, Apr. 20.
At least 75 people came to the march and participated. The Black Student Union President, Brittany Windham, was happy with the number since the march was organized quickly and not many students knew about it.
“Everyone wore black without us telling them to, and making signs and having even the four people come up during the open mic was such a great thing to see because it showed that people truly cared and wanted to be apart of change,” said Windham.
SGA student leaders started out by speaking about police brutality. SGA senator, Malaika Newsome, led the march as students followed while shouting chants. The whole event had a set of chants that participants were told to shout during the march. One of the student leaders would shout “Tell me what you want, what you really really want,” and the march participants would reply with “Justice.” Windham, herself, got to lead some of these chants.
“I loved being able to be the leader of most of the chants and leading everyone through the route, but what I mostly loved was seeing how everyone was so passionate and involved,” said Windham.
SGA Vice President, Aaron Speyer, expected a big turnout for this event due to the “unfortunate and horrible incidents of police brutality and misjudgments that continue to occur in our country,” he said in an email message.
“This is a great way for students to not only advocate against these incidents but to come together and strengthen our community, one that includes a diverse population of students from all different backgrounds,” said Speyer in an email message.
Speyer acknowledged that the event was for students to let out their frustrations in a safe environment where people feel similarly. To Speyer, the BLM marches mean more than just advocacy.
“They’re a way for people to get together and share their feelings, their thoughts, and their calls for change,” said Speyer.
The purpose of this march was to not only honor the lives lost to systemic racism and police brutality but to bring awareness of the issue. The day of the march was the same day Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd.
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