A crowd gathered on the steps of the Auburn University Student Center Friday, Dec. 5, to protest the deaths and grand jury decisions of Michael Brown and Eric Garner by uniformed police officers.
Neither police officer was indicted in the deaths of Brown or Garner, sparking riots and protests across the country.
"This is for everyone," said India Napier, president of the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association. "This is not just about black men who have been gunned down by the police. This is for everyone, regardless of sex, religion, your race, your sexual orientation, your religion, you should not be oppressed."
Napier rallied students at the eastern entrance of the Student Center before leading them to the Haley Concourse.
Throughout the event Napier held a sign that read, "I cannot stand idly by in Auburn and not be concerned about what is happening in America."
Protestors laid on the ground for 4 and a half minutes, symbolic of the 4 and a half hours Michael Brown laid uncovered in the Ferguson, Missouri street after being shot.
"This is a minority thing going on, and we go to a mostly white college," said Devin McCants, protestor and junior in information systems management. "For everyone to see that this really matters to us, I think they'll jump on board because Auburn is really a niche family. This mix is good, that's what you want it to be. You don't want it to be all black. You want to know that other races do care about this."
Michael Grogan-Herod, protester and senior in English, said he was on Twitter when news of the Garner case first broke across the Internet.
"I felt that I had to do something besides get mad at my screen, so I got my poster board and just started protesting," Grogan-Herod said. "It's not just a race issue. It's not just a police brutality issue. It's both. It's also a human issue.This man who died had a family and a wife and kids that aren't going to see their dad again. I just want them to get some comfort and get some closure and they're not going to get that."
After the demonstration on the Haley concourse, the crowd returned to their starting point in front of the Student Center to hear Napier's closing remarks.
"A student group applied for a permit for a peaceful protest, which we give them the right to do in a university setting," said Bobby Woodard, vice president of Student Affairs. "We support their ability to voice their opinions. There's a difference between supporting actions and their ability to voice their opinions."
Woodard said he and his organization support the right students have to peacefully protest.
"Yes [it is a peaceful protest], and that's what we're usually out here for, we're out here to support the students and administrators, and we're also out here to make sure it's a peaceful protest," Woodard said.
Multiple student organizations, including the Black Student Union and College Democrats, organized the demonstration through social media earlier in the week but waited until Friday, Dec. 5, to maximize their efforts, according to Nicole Harris, BSU member and senior in software engineering.
"We just compiled with everyone else to bring awareness to social injustice and how injustice anywhere is truly a threat to justice everywhere, and its not a bipartisan issue, it's a human rights issue," said Dana Trentalange, member of College Democrats' leadership team and junior in economics.
Harris said as a young African-American, the deaths of Brown and Garner have only become more significant.
"That could be me laying on the ground like that," Harris said. "Hopefully people will take notice and look into the situation and look at things better. Just get more knowledge out there so you really know what's going on in the real world."
Alexis Harrison, protestor and senior in environmental design, said she was thankful for the people who set up the protest.
"I really appreciate the organizers for putting this together and making us all come together," Harrison said. "I think it was a great way to show that Auburn is aware of the issues that are happening in America."
Kayla Warner, BSU member and freshman in business, said she attended the protest to promote change in Auburn and across the country.
"I came out here today because I want to be a part of something, to change our world, to change what we're doing, to change this country so everybody can see how... everybody in this country is being treated by the police, how we're being repressed by the police, how lives matter," Warner said. "Black lives matter."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
