Students Stand in Solidarity with Communities of Color

In a demonstration spearheaded by the Black Law Students Association and supported by nearly a dozen student groups, members of the Law School community dressed in black on Thursday and engaged in a coordinated social media campaign to show solidarity with a nationwide movement against police brutality.

The effort came in the wake of recent grand jury decisions not to indict police officers in the unrelated deaths of two unarmed black men: Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY.

“It was beautiful that we had faculty members and students across all the student groups supporting the movement,” said BLSA President Ruby Garrett, ’16. “One of the 1Ls went into a professor’s office and saw him in all black, and came back and said me, ‘Ruby, it is amazing to know that they actually care about students that are being stressed and negatively impacted by the decisions.’ ”

Students posted this message on their Facebook walls:

“In the wake of the Brown and Garner decisions, we stand in solidarity with those across the country who are angry at systemic marginalization of already disenfranchised communities of color. We wear black today in support of justice and equality under the law. We wear black today because black lives matter. #UChicagoLaw #BlackLivesMatter.”

More than 120 students and faculty also posed for a photo in their black attire in front of the Law School.

Garrett said it was “a relief” to see the support and know that “this is not just a BLSA problem.” She said the demonstration was intended to be simple and responsive — and to address the broader issue of police brutality, particularly as it relates to people of color.

Bette Muirhead, ’16, said she showed up because she’d found herself keeping quiet about the issue but felt this was a good way to show her classmates that she’s an ally.

 “I want people who are feeling pain over this to know that they’re not alone,” she said.

Added Sri Pernankil, ’15, president of Defenders and former vice president of the South Asian Law Students Association: “This was a great way for everyone to show their support.”