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Part of Black Student Union holds annual 'Black Solidarity' rally, November 9, 2017

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Black Student Union holds annual 'Black Solidarity' rally
Demonstrators rally to raise awareness for racial injustices

ALLISON STAEBELL / THE SPECTRUM

Members of UB's Black-Student Union participated in a "Black Solidarity" rally on Monday afternoon. The
annual rally aims to celebrate black pride and raise awareness about the issues the black community faces.

SPECTRUM

11/9/17

MADDY FOWLER
NEWS EDITOR

Roughly 30 students participated in
a ''Black Solidarity'' rally Monday af­
ternoon as part of UB's Black Student
Union's Black Solidarity Week.
The rally started in the Student Union Lob­
by. From there, studet1ts marched through the
Academic Spine. pemonstrators chanted "say
it loud, I'm black and I'm proud," "no justice,
no peace, no racist police" and "this is what
democracy looks like." Some students car-

ried signs. One read, "if all lives matter, what's
the issue with black lives matter." Another de­
clared, "united we stand." .
Nov. 6 is Black Solidarity Day, a national
observance that started in 1969. Every year,
the day falls on the Monday before Election
Day. The day was originally established to en­
courage political discussion before elections.
The day has evolved into an opportunity for
education and awareness about the black
community and the issues they face, as well as
an opportunity to express black pride.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Black Student Union holds annual 'Black
Solidarity'·rally
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

UB's Black Student Union celebrates Black
Solidarity Day by showcasing and selling
products from black owned businesses in the
Student Union Lobby. Students traditionally
hold a rally after the sales event.
"This is about celebrating being black and
being proud," Aykayla Watson, a senior bio­
logical sciences major said.
Watson explained the demonstratio·n was
intended to be "more of a rally than a pro­
test," and the goal of the rally was to raise
•i

./

awareness about the social injustices black
people face in America. These injustices in­
clude police brutality, discrimination and
racism, according to Watson.
Daniel E dwards, a sophomore exercise
science major, said the rally was an example
of democracy in action.
"This is about democracy," Edwards
said. "We can rally how we want as long it's
peaceful. We have a rally every year and it's
just tradition to keep fighting."
Edwards said. he hoped the rally, would
\
raise awareness about
the struggle of be.
,

ing aa person of color at UB, in addition to
celebrating black pride. He hoped the dem­
onstration would help draw attention to the
fact that UB's African American Studies de­
partment is shrinking.
Jaycee Miller, a sophomore political sci­
ence and environmental design major, chose
to participate in the rally as a way to show
solidarity for her friends in BSU. She feels it
is important to use her privilege as a white
person to show support for the black com­
munity and raise awareness about the issues
that African Americans •face, particularly as
white nationalism becomes more prominent
in the United States.

"We live in a world where white national­
ism is running rampant," Miller said. "White
people need to show support for the black
community, a community that has suffered
atrocities for centuries."
Miller believes the purpose of any protest
is to "voice grievances." She feels this rally
was especially important and timely in light
of the "White Lives Matters" signs that
were posted throughout campus on Friday.
''The point of this protest is to raise aware­
ness about these issues and show that we are
willing to fight to fix them,"Miller said.
emall: maddy.fowler@ubspectrum.com