Occupy JMU March
Donation protected
This event is to bring awareness to the racially oppressive environment at JMU. Black students are under attack and we will no longer be ignored. We are tired of JMUs displays of performative allyship and demand actionable and timely steps be taken to create an equitable, inclusive, supportive, and just environment for black students, faculty, staff, and affiliates.
On June 12th, the JMU Chapter of NAACP, Women of Color, Black Student Alliance and student and faculty affiliates led a march to the spirit rock. This coalition painted the spirit rock with the words “Black Lives Matter” to show solidarity with the movement and with the names of victims who have been murdered and victimized by police in honorarium.
During the week of August 19th, the spirit rock was vandalized. The word “Black” was torn from the spirit rock in an obvious act of terrorism toward the black community.
JMU has done nothing to ensure the safety black students. Repeatedly, the JMU administration has shown that they do not stand with or care about the lives, social educational experience of their black students, faculty, and staff.
If you stay neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Unfortunately, we see where JMU stands, and has consistently stood. The university's behavior is beyond unacceptable in terms of how they have continued to treat the black community. The idea of diversity is sold to minority students when they are introduced to the university but over time JMU has shown themselves to be a performative institution in terms of racial and social justice. The funds will be used for supplies such as bottled water, snacks, poster boards, markers, paint, first aid equipment, masks, goggles, hand sanitizers, organization and logistic fees, and funding for events to continue such as these.
On June 12th, the JMU Chapter of NAACP, Women of Color, Black Student Alliance and student and faculty affiliates led a march to the spirit rock. This coalition painted the spirit rock with the words “Black Lives Matter” to show solidarity with the movement and with the names of victims who have been murdered and victimized by police in honorarium.
During the week of August 19th, the spirit rock was vandalized. The word “Black” was torn from the spirit rock in an obvious act of terrorism toward the black community.
JMU has done nothing to ensure the safety black students. Repeatedly, the JMU administration has shown that they do not stand with or care about the lives, social educational experience of their black students, faculty, and staff.
If you stay neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Unfortunately, we see where JMU stands, and has consistently stood. The university's behavior is beyond unacceptable in terms of how they have continued to treat the black community. The idea of diversity is sold to minority students when they are introduced to the university but over time JMU has shown themselves to be a performative institution in terms of racial and social justice. The funds will be used for supplies such as bottled water, snacks, poster boards, markers, paint, first aid equipment, masks, goggles, hand sanitizers, organization and logistic fees, and funding for events to continue such as these.
Organizer
Noa Banks Greene
Organizer
Harrisonburg, VA
