Black Lives Matter Marchers Air Grievances At WCSU Protest

DANBURY, CT — Around 100 students and Danbury residents marched through the campus of Western Connecticut State University Friday during a noontime protest.

Protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police brutality are in their second week, following the death of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police on Memorial Day.

The two earlier Black Lives Matter marches through downtown Danbury each drew crowds in excess of a thousand protesters.

Speakers at the WCSU rally by and large took the university to task for race- and bias-related grievances. Several said the school's recent efforts towards retiring its controversial mascot, "Chuck the Colonial," were too little, too late.

Protest organizer Tommy Cherisme shared anecdotes of how he believed was singled out for certain disciplinary actions due to his race.

Another speaker, WCSU Class of 2019 alumna ("not a proud one") Vernay Snow, complained that "During my college career I have been belittled, my character has been assassinated, I wasn't given opportunities that I was more than qualified for because of my ability and dedication to speak truth to power, while also being black."

Snow urged the attendees to "educate ourselves and hold (the University) accountable."

"We no longer want diversity," Snow said. "We want inclusion."

Speakers at the rally included WCSU president John Clark who said he was wearing a black tie for the occasion to show his solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and as an expression of "heartfelt sympathy for the Floyd family."

"This is not just an incident that happened two weeks ago, this is over 400 years ago, and that we cannot abide," Clark said. "The plain historical fact is that black lives have not mattered in our society."

"As to the question and theme of today's march, 'Can you hear us yet?' it is time to say, white America, all of America, all of the world, must finally hear and listen to the cry of black America," Clark said.

"Black lives do matter, and permanent societal change must happen now."