Protests continue: Students, faculty and alumni march against relocation plans

Dozens of university community members marched from the Grill at 1810 to the Confederate cemetery in opposition of the university’s “proposed plans for the renovation of the Confederate cemetery” on Monday afternoon. 

Photo by Katherine Butler.

Organized by student leaders from the #UMoveTheStatue campaign and members of the new Alumni Action Network, protesters included undergraduate students like Associated Student Body (ASB) president Joshua Mannery and ASB vice president Abby Johnston, alumni like Leah Davis and Arielle Hudson and faculty members like associate professor of sociology James Thomas. 

All of whom were present to portray one message to Chancellor Glenn Boyce and other university administration: “We need to abandon the plans to move the statue,” one organizer Brianna Simms said. 

On June 18, when the state Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) voted to approve the university’s proposal to relocate the Confederate monument that Boyce sent to them, the plan included a renovation of the Confederate cemetery to make it “a more suitable location on campus.” This renovation involves adding a new marker to recognize the men from Lafayette County as part of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War and new headstones for those buried in the cemetery. These are the plans that the group protests. 

In 90 degree heat, the crowd marched less than half a mile down Manning Way chanting mantras of “Relocation, not glorification” and “Abandon the plan.” Several student athletes stood outside of the Manning Center to raise their fists in solidarity, and one Black construction crew member did the same from behind the walls of the cemetery. 

“We are here today because in a time where people across our country are screaming Black Lives Matter, Chancellor (Glenn) Boyce has shown us that he doesn’t give a damn about our voice,” senior public policy major Tyler Yarbrough said. “By proposing to build a million-dollar shrine to white supremacy in this very spot, Chancellor Boyce has blatantly disregarded the lives of Black students, Black faculty, Black staff and Black alumni.”

Organizers used the phones of former Black Student Union president Arielle Hudson and ASB president Mannery to call Boyce and Provost Noel Wilkin while the protest ensued. Neither answered. 

As the protesters marched up to the police line on Coliseum Loop that blocks off the entrance to the cemetery, Yarbrough, Simms and several others attempted to walk past it, stating their “right to protest.” University Police officers and Wood Security guards promptly stopped them, and other protesters tore down the police tape. 

https://twitter.com/katherineab1/status/1278399394476437505?s=20

“At one point, we asked, ‘Do we want to keep walking?’ and Arielle (Hudson) mentioned the officers might pull out a taser or something, so we didn’t want to endanger anybody,” Mannery said. 

Instead of advancing further, the crowd kneeled, some with their hands up, and entered into an 8 minute and 46 second long moment of silence to honor those who have died at the hands of police brutality. 

The three security guards and eight police officers, including Chief Ray Hawkins, stood by in silence. 

As the group rose and chants of “What’s outrageous? Racist values. What’s disgusting? Racist statues” began.

“Trust me, (Boyce and Wilkin) know that we’re here,” recent graduate Leah Davis said. “If we have to come back here next week, we’re going to keep coming back next week.” 

Mannery said the group is hoping that Boyce will respond to the calls for changing the relocation plan by the end of this week, and if he doesn’t, the protests will continue. 

A construction worker inside the cemetery fence raises his fist to the protesters as they pass. Photo by Katherine Butler.
Photo by Katherine Butler.
Photo by Katherine Butler.
Photo by Katherine Butler.
Photo by Katherine Butler.
Previous Story

What’s in store for fall 2020? Disclosing health history, completing COVID training and social distancing.

Next Story

Confederate monument leaves the center of campus

Latest from Blog

US Air Force: Why It’s The Best

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ei officiis assueverit pri, duo volumus commune molestiae ad, cum at clita latine. Tation nominavi quo id. An est possit adipiscing, error tation qualisque vel te. Stet

Margherita Pizza: The Recipe With Videos

Ius ea rebum nostrum offendit. Per in recusabo facilisis, est ei choro veritus gloriatur. Has ut dicant fuisset percipit. At usu iusto iisque mandamus, simul persius complectitur at sit, aliquam moderatius elaboraret

Jazz Music: Untold Stories

Labore nonumes te vel, vis id errem tantas tempor. Solet quidam salutatus at quo. Tantas comprehensam te sea, usu sanctus similique ei. Viderer admodum mea et, probo tantas alienum ne vim. Eos

How to become a successful blogger?

Quo natum nemore putant in, his te case habemus. Nulla detraxit explicari in vim. Id eam magna omnesque. Per cu dicat urbanitas, sit postulant disputationi ea. Duo ad graeci tamquam interesset, putant
Go toTop

Don't Miss