UW students protest ‘alt-right,’ call on chancellor to condemn hate speech – The Badger Herald
One week after a University of Wisconsin student attempted to start an alt-right group on campus, students and community members alike marched to protest the movement and fight white supremacy.
In a mass demonstration entitled Take Back our Campus: Resist White Supremacy, around 70 protesters gathered Tuesday to marchfrom Library Mall to Bascom Hall to voice their list of demands. Beforeending their march, the group made its wayto the Student Activity Center to speak to UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who was attending a shared governance meeting.
The eventbegan at Library Mall featured speakers from a range of 30 different groups who addressed the protesters on issues related to fighting white supremacy. Laura Minero, a UW graduatestudent and member of DREAMers of UW-Madison, began the protest by encouraging the crowdto come together as one.
Conservative, liberal student organizations denounce alt-right movementIn a moment ofunity on the University of Wisconsin campus, student organizations from both the liberal and conservative camps have
Minero said people believe issues like xenophobia and homophobia are new, but in reality, they are not.
Its time that people get woke, and thats why were all here. Minero said. And were here to bring wokeness to this campus and not allow groups like this alt-right group thats trying to infiltrate our campus.
Ali Brooks, a member of Groundworks, an anti-racism group in Madison,discussed racial justice at the protest. She said white supremacy on campus is nothing new and the rise of President Donald Trump has revealed this.
People should use their privilege and power to do work that may be dangerous for people of color, she added.
White silence is violence, Brooks said.
UW students walk out of class in opposition to Trumps inaugurationAt 11 a.m. Friday morning, Donald Trump was sworn into the Oval Office, effectively becoming the 45th president of the
The speaking portionended with a discussion led by Acheh Fonkem, a UW student with a hearing disability, on the topics of white supremacy and immigration.
Protesters then marched to Bascom Hall chanting, No justice, no peace, and This is our university, fuck white supremacy.
Tina Trevio-Murphy, a member of the Teaching Assistants Association, discussed social change at Bascom Hall. She said individuals by themselves are not strong enough to make major changes. People must come together for a common cause, she added, to be stronger and create change.
Protesters continued by marching to the SAC to question Blank, who was in a shared governance meeting,about her plans to deal with the alt-right.
One attendee from the meetingasked Blank on how the community should respond when approached with subtle forms of racism, to which the protesters demanded Blank condemn all forms of racism, including hate speech.
Though the protesters appearance was unscheduled, Blank was able to address some of their concerns.
Oneorganizer of the demonstration,Ricardo de la Cruz II, called march successful because they had a list of demands. He said he hopes the event spurs political change on campus.
Part of the political change they hope to achieve, he said, is to have the administration make changes.
You have to fight for something, de la Cruz II said. Especially since theres so many identities on this campus, why wouldnt you, especially if youre a person of color, why wouldnt you fight for your own identity especially when its being oppressed.
Original post:
UW students protest 'alt-right,' call on chancellor to condemn hate speech - The Badger Herald