It only took minutes for the solemn and silent expressions of more than 250 hoodie-clad Ohio University students, faculty members and Athens residents to erupt into chants of justice for a slain Florida teen.
The attendees staged a protest in honor of Trayvon Martin, a black 17-year-old shot to death in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26, deeming his death a social injustice because race might have played a part. George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Martin, has not been arrested or charged for a crime.
The group began gathering in front of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium at 5 p.m. for the rally and eventual march.
Standing atop a platform in front of a large banner advocating “Justice for Trayvon,” seven speakers addressed the crowd on racism in society, injustice within the government, stereotyping in the media, and collective activism.
The speakers challenged those in attendance to take action and start making changes to combat what Tyler Barton, a senior studying chemistry, called “the new Jim Crow.”
Martin’s death has sparked a campuswide movement, said Stephanie Sheeley, a senior studying political science.
“It’s not about race or segregation,” Sheeley said. “It’s a factor, but there’s so much more to it. This is for justice.”
Other speakers expanded on her message and issued a call to action for students to continue fighting the effects of discrimination and profiling of minorities in the United States.
During a speech, Pastor Leon Forte from the Grace Christian Center in Athens, said, “(Martin’s death) can either be a seed for change, or he can be a tragedy we always look back on. This year, this is your hour. Make your voice heard.”
About 5:40 p.m., the group picked up their signs and megaphones and walked down Park Place and in front of Baker University Center, ending in front of the graffiti wall on Mulberry Street.
Victoria Little, a senior studying theater, shouted cries of “No justice! No peace!” as the group marched.
The large turnout for the protest was a good start, Little said, but students must now ensure that Martin’s death is not forgotten.
“The news is going to stop covering the Trayvon Martin case, but it can’t stop there,” she said. “Why are people going to stop murdering people if they think they can just get away with it and call it self-defense?”
William McFarland, a sophomore studying psychology and sociology, said the protest unified students and allowed them to share their frustrations.
“I think we’re getting too complacent about fighting racism,” he said. “It’s sad that it took a murder of an innocent, young teenager to raise awareness. It’s an awful death, but from this we can learn from it and experience (change).”
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