#thisstopsnow

In response to the recent non-indictments of Michael Brown’s murderer Darren Wilson and Eric Garner’s murderer Daniel Pantaleo, SUNY Geneseo cultural groups  Black Student Union (BSU), Zeta Phi Beta, Partners in Health, Students Against Social Injustice (SASI), Womens Action Coalition (WAC), The Geneseo Pride Alliance, Peace Action, Genesee Valley Cooperative, Geneseo Environmental Organization (GEO), Latin Student Association  (LSA), Gamma Chi Epsilon, and Democracy Matters organized a die-in. The murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner are not isolated instances! The students are protesting against police brutality, militarization of the police, mass incarceration, and white supremacy. 

On December 5th more than 300 people joined in the rally, which by its peak completely encircled the wide College Green with protesters. Students said that they are not only protesting they were heard screaming "I can't breathe, We can't breathe, Geneseo can't breathe", "Hands Up, Don't Shoot", etc. The students also staged a die-in, where they all laid down silently, as if dead, for 4 minutes and 5 seconds, which they say represents the 4 hours and 5 minutes that Michael Brown’s body lay after his death.

Later on throughout that day about a dozen students held another protest and sat in the hockey rink with concealed signs saying “Black lives matter” and “Justice is as blind as it is deaf,” and marched out of the arena when the clock his 4:30 of the first inning with their hands up, chanting “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” This protest was nowhere near the scale of the afternoon’s protest, where more than 300 students flooded the College Green and lay as if dead in front of the library, the leaders of the campus movement said that they reached a different demographic and that the protest was still successful even though their numbers were small. 

“People are not always wanting to understand where you are coming from,” said Ashley Ramos, 20, a student protester. “(Mike Brown and Eric Garner’s deaths) were not isolated incidents, this is happening every day, in every neighborhood. To get people to want to understand is the hardest part.”

Yesterday, on December 9th College Officials voiced their support for the Ferguson and Garner Protest and Protestors.

Some college professors come out to the student-led demonstrations that started in the middle of campus and moved on to the towns Main Street, where they walked down the street and back to campus. Two history professors, One educational professors and several students took the stand as featured speakers in front of dozens people huddled in the 23 degree chill.

“This is not a moment,” said Laura Brown, 19, a protest organizer. “This is a movement. In the future there will be a collaboration of student groups who will come together at times of social injustice, like this, and take action against it.”

"Yes my skin defines me, yes my skin makes me a minority, and yes because of my skin I am at a disadvantage."said Taylor Keith, 19 a protestor "But that will not stop me. It will not stop me from marching, it will not stop me from chanting and screaming until I loose my voice and it should not stop any of you either."

The Students who have organized the several protests over the past few days say that their efforts have fueled the formation of a larger student organization, called Geneseo Students for Justice, and their protest are far from over.

David Gordon, representing Dr. Long’s office, said the college fully supports all peaceful student and faculty engagement with larger social issues.

Compilation video of the die-in, march and vigil:

http://youtu.be/GwJkXt0RPd0

#BlackLivesMatter

#IndictAmerica

#ShutItDown

#NoBusinessAsUsual

#ThisStopsNow

#HandsUpDontShoot

#ICantBreathe

#GeneseoCantBreathe

Photo Credits : The Students at SUNY Geneseo including but not limited too Samuel Aviles, The Students at The Lamron, Abby Golfo, Jason Phillips The photographers at The GeneseeSun and the students who took photos as the witnessed the protest.

CHICAGO, IL

WED DEC 10th - 5:00 PM