Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

On March 29 the Black Student Union and the Division of Student Affairs organized a demonstration in memory of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American student who was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Fla. Students and staff demonstrated their concern by wearing hoodies at a gathering in the Buell Management Building atrium.

A national conversation has resulted from the death of the unarmed youth, in part because Martin was considered a threat because he was a young black man wearing a hoodie.

Many leaders in the African American community believe that the neighborhood watch captain should be prosecuted. They believe racism and racial stereotyping are still major problems in the United States almost 50 years after the civil rights movement resulted in major changes in the country’s laws.

Members of the Black Student Union at Lawrence Tech said the Treyvon Martin case should not be forgotten.

“I like it that everyone around the country is standing up for a young black man who was shot down. It is important for youth to show that we care about our future and our place in the world,” said Carl Durden, a member of the Black Student Union at Lawrence Tech.

Javon Hunter, the president of the student group, said it is important to address the issues surrounding Martin’s death. Florida and federal officials should respond quickly to see that justice is administered properly in this case.

“We encourage the governor of Florida  [to take action] so that this doesn’t become normal or regular. … The fact that it happens at all is unacceptable,” Hunter said.

Erian O’Neal, vice president of the Black Student Union, said the purpose of the demonstration was to draw attention to the problem of racism in American society. “The LTU campus is predominantly white. We need to educate others if they don’t know about it, and now they do,” she said. “We’re also seeking justice for Treyvon’s parents.”

 

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