The Black Lives Matter Movement on Purdue Campus

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Purdue students at a Black Lives Matter March
    On March 13th 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year old Black woman and emergency medical technician from Louisville, was shot five times and killed by police officers in her own home. On October 9th 2020, I attended a socially-distanced candlelight vigil for the late Breonna Taylor, organized by the Black Students Union. Students came from all corners of campus to gather outside of Class of 1950 and honor the memory of Breonna Taylor. Brave Black men and women stood at the center of the crowd to speak, sing, and recite poems. Every single word they delivered echoed their passion for attaining justice for Breonna Taylor as well as their sympathy for the hardships the Black community, especially Black women and transgender women, face in this country everyday. Finally, they handed out candles to the crowd and we had a moment of silence for Breonna Taylor.  
    This event was incredibly moving, well organized, and one of many hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU). The Black Student Union (BSU) is a campus organization that aims to be the “political voice for the black student population” and “facilitate communication between the black student population and the Purdue University administration.” This semester, the BSU has also organized two marches for the Black Lives Matter movement. These marches started at the Black Cultural Center on Third Street and ended at the steps of Hovde Hall. Here, students had the opportunity to stand up in front of their peers, express their opinions, and call for action to fight  against injustice. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, these events were carried out safely as participants were required to wear masks and socially distance. 
    The community of Black students at Purdue University has been a force for change. From attending the vigil, I was able to witness the strength, eloquence, and tenacity of my Black peers. I can safely say that they inspire the rest of the student body to stand up to injustice and for a better future. Fortunately, to encourage students to speak up for what we believe in openly, Purdue has a great policy about freedom of expression. The university “guarantees all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn.” You can read more about Purdue’s commitment to freedom of expression here. 
    Furthermore, the university itself has also taken some active steps to be involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. The Division of Diversity and Inclusion is a division at Purdue University that aims to create a welcoming community on campus for all communities, increase numbers of underrepresented and diverse students and staff, and prepare students to thrive in our multicultural society. The division is in charge of all of the cultural and resource centers on campus like the Black Cultural Center, the LGBTQ+ center and many others. This academic year, they have launched a series called the “Pursuing Racial Justice Together” lecture series. The series gives students and faculty the opportunity to attend virtual lectures led by Black leaders and speakers about various subjects pertaining to racial justice. Earlier this semester, Ibram X. Kendi, author of “How to Be an Antiracist”, and Ben Crump, civil rights attorney and lead attorney for the family of George Floyd, were among the many visionaries who presented lectures. For those interested in attending similar lectures, there are many more planned for the near future. Notably, they are having a panel discussion about Policing in America on December 3rd. To learn more about the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, their resources, and the “Pursuing Racial Justice Together” lecture series please visit this link.
    Despite the action that has been taken, it is important to acknowledge the long, winding path ahead of us for reaching racial justice. The Purdue Board of Trustees has created an Equity Task Force to develop a plan with specific actions to ensure all members of the university community have the opportunity to experience all Purdue has to offer equitably, focusing on structural and environmental barriers to success of students, faculty, and staff of color and specifically the experience of Black Boilermakers. There is still a lot more progress that must be made in our society as well as in our own Purdue community to ensure that all individuals are treated equally and fairly. We all must do our part to listen and to amplify the Black voices that are speaking. This journey so far has been incredibly inspiring watching students and faculty congregate and take the steps to make racial equality our reality. If you would like to learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement at Purdue and our response we have have some wonderful resources on campus like the Black Cultural Center and the Black Students Union. Reach out to us via email, direct message or our social media links below if you have any questions or need help finding the right resources for you!
Aikya Chirra, Biomedical Engineering 2023
WE Link Leadership Team

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