Students at the University of Missouri-Columbia hold ‘die-in’ demonstration in protest of police mistreatment in Ferguson
Students at the University of Missouri-Columbia staged a “die-in” demonstration in protest of events happening in Ferguson, Missouri.
The demonstration included poetry written by students and reading of names of black men and women who have lost their lives at the hands of police.
Holding up sheets of paper with the names of black teenagers and young adults who were killed while unarmed, dozens of students at the University of Missouri participated in a “die-in” demonstration that started just before noon Wednesday at Speakers Circle. […]
Students representing the dead collapsed to the concrete, with more students following suit as the hourlong demonstration progressed. After the readings, other students drew outlines around the collapsed bodies on the pavement with chalk.
“This is bigger than Ferguson,” Jennifer Pagan, an MU student and demonstration organizer, told the more than 200 people at the event. “This is a human rights issue.”
Pagan said she and other organizers with the MU 4 Mike Brown student coalition drew inspiration from a similar demonstration by Kansas State University students.
The “die-in” is one of many events organized by the coalition to raise awareness and discussion about the fatal shooting of Ferguson teen Michael Brown. Brown, who was unarmed at the time, was killed by Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9.
Students of many races participated in Wednesday’s event, with just about everyone wearing solid black clothing. The students held signs that read, “Black lives matter” and “We will not be silent.”
Kudos to these students for standing up for justice.
Sound off below!
