Wesleyan University Students March in Black Lives Matter Protest

An estimated 1,000 Wesleyan students took part in a Black Lives Matter rally Monday afternoon.

Participants marched from campus to Main and Washington streets, according to the Middletown Press.

Many colleges students and city residents across the country have had Black Lives Matter and “Die-in” protests to voice frustration after a New York grand jury decided not to indict a New York City Police Department officer who put Eric Garner in a chokehold. In late November a Missouri grand jury decided not to indict Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson after he shot and killed Michael Brown.

Wesleyan President Michael Roth wrote the following on the university’s website:

We are preparing for finals, writing exams, grading them…. These are important things. But all around the country people are speaking out against the outrageous injustices that people of color face on a regular basis. We must acknowledge these issues. The time to speak out is now.

The following notice appeared on the faculty list-serve tonight.

On Monday, December 8th, at 3 pm, students of Wesleyan University will be marching in response to the police brutality and systemic racism that led to the deaths of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and countless other people of color in recent times. The state must be held accountable for the prejudicial treatment of these individuals. Our movement must start from the ground-up. I am emailing you to ask for your support and solidarity, and invite you to march alongside us students for this cause. We will be gathering at Exley Science Center at 265 Church St.

At Wesleyan we affirm that we are an institution that values boldness, rigor and practical idealism. One doesn’t have to be an idealist to recognize that change is necessary, and that we must demand it.

Join us. This is Why.

Image via Twitter