The walk out demonstration, organized by a group of grad/undergrad students, started at the Sun Dial at noon today. Speakers included professors with expertise on the Middle East, Iraq War veterans (IVAW members), and unreserved students (with reps from Lucha and Columbia Coalition Against the War).
At 2 PM, demonstrators surrounded the Alma Mater on Low Steps (hooded and holding electric wires, a painful reminder of the infamous Abu Ghraib photograph), linked arms, and stood silently for fifteen minutes in a nonviolent protest. Under urgent beckoning, administrators rushed by and watched the scene, ready for any sort of commotion that might arise. Meanwhile, a few organizers remained at the table and read out names of the dead in Iraq.
After the "human chain" broke, the crowd trickled back to the Sun Dial and listened to the name reading. Due to the heat from the burning sun, organizers dutifully passed around cups of water (and divestment petitions).
(Change your Facebook photos!)
In case you didn't already put the pieces together after listening to people read out names of the dead all week, read all about Columbia University's protest against the War in Iraq here, here, and here. PC members will be in attendace (our own Ryan Fukumori designed the flyers), so be on the lookout.
AAA at the Jena National Student Walkout last Monday, standing in solidarity. If the person who took this photo is reading this post, thank you.
[Update 6:46 pm]
Amazing turnout & people. I'm expecting Spec to headline it tomorrow. Huge props to all those who took their time to plan everything this weekend!
If you were anywhere near this campus (or passing by in one of those huge red tour buses), I don't need to describe the event to you.
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On December 4, 2006, six black teenage students were charged with beating a white student after a series of racially charged incidents occurred in Jena, Louisiana. Evidence proves that these charges (attempted second degree murder; conspiracy to commit attempted second degree murder) were racially discriminatory after equally injurious crimes committed by white students were left unpunished.
On September 20, 2007, rallies were held in Jena to show "support of the Jena Six and all African Americans in the United States who have been unfairly treated by the justice system". Among the expected 40 to 60 thousand attendants stood a huge number of students from Columbia University.
On September 26, 2007, racially charged graffiti targeted against "people of Middle Eastern and African descent" was found in a bathroom stall of the International Affairs Building. In an emergency meeting held on Thursday evening by the Black Students Organization, one student commented that "this is an echo of what happened in Jena."
On October 1, 2007, leaders of 50 campuses nationwide plan for a national walkout to take place at noon. Though the aforementioned events do not directly target Asian American students (and, in turn, the Asian American Alliance), AAA's members wish to help fight against racial injustice and show solidarity towards all students that have been treated unequally by the law.
Columbia University's walkout will take place TODAY at NOON on LOW STEPS. Wear black to show your support.
(For more information, click here)