Headlines
Rain-Soaked Protestors Lead “Students Over Statues” March
By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com
Video by Talbert Toole
Roughly over 300 students, faculty, staff, LOU community members and allies congregated outside of the E.F. Yerby Conference Center Friday afternoon for the Students Over Statues March—a protest against the Confederate statue that resides at the edge of the Circle on the University of Mississippi’s campus.
The march, which was organized by Students Against Social Injustice (SASI), was originally slated to meet in the lobby of Lamar Hall, but the location changed Friday morning.
Prior to the march, several UM students like Em Gill, secretary of SASI, and Jaz Brisack, Ole Miss Rhodes Scholar, spoke to the crowd about how the university should be more inclusive to its students.
The group was met by an additional crowd, wearing bright green ponchos, who are attending SASI’s national convention on Saturday. The convention was moved to Memphis due to the organization failing to follow through with university guidelines, according to SASI president Quay Williams.
Despite the rain, the protestors marched from the conference center to the statue chanting “What do we want? Justice!” while being escorted by several University Police Department officers. Once the group reached the statue, protestors joined together to sing “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers.
Attendees of SASI’s national convention marched in solidarity with others to the Confederate statue Friday. Photo by Anna Grace Usery.
SASI previously hosted a similar protest march Nov. 28, 2018, in which the organization marched from Lamar Hall to the Circle; however, the group’s final destination was The Lyceum where it delivered a letter of demands to former chancellor Jeffrey Vitter. The demands are as follows:
1) “The University of Mississippi administration must remove the Confederate statue from campus
2) Administration must implement a publicized hate speech policy to protect students from the racist violence we experience on campus
3) Regardless of who is in the Chancellor’s position, administration will meet with us next semester to discuss these demands.”
SASI is the local chapter of the national student-led organization United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS). According to the group’s mission statement, they are committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for marginalized persons on campus.
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William Barron
February 22, 2019 at 7:55 pm
Damnable, and I make note that Counseling Services are offered tomorrow…. What For? Seeing Confederate or State Flag? A sad day when Ole Miss kowtows to Political Correctness forgetting her Honor, Heritage, History and Blood.
Deneise
February 23, 2019 at 2:23 am
If they don’t like our dang school, find another one that will put up with your pushy demands. I, for one, am tired of them. The same groups just keep asking; we give it; and oh, guess what – we give in — so why wouldn’t they keep asking? We just need to find some spines in the administration that understands and knows how to say NO! When the other SEC schools say there’s something wrong (and not giving you a hard time about it), you know there’s an issue. I thought it would change after the ruling came down. I think we’ve given up all the traditions to the protesters. So, if you still don’t like it or didn’t run away the people you hoped. Maybe it’s not the right school for you. After all, you should concentrate on your education and not what group is nice or mean to you. Sorry, but I believe in handling my own problems, not tattling that everyone is not playing fair wit the new person. Just anFYI
Jeanne
February 23, 2019 at 7:33 am
If you don’t like the school, LEAVE
Jackie Montgomery
February 23, 2019 at 8:37 am
When did people become so Whiny and pathetic? Grow up. The confederate soldier is a part of ole miss and it’s history. You knew the history before you came to the University of Mississippi. If it upsets you so much, maybe you should have attended a different school.
Jana
February 23, 2019 at 9:02 am
As an Ole Miss alum I have mixed feelings about it. During my 5 years there I had friends of all races. They chose to come to this school and I never ever heard one of them say they felt discriminated against. The traditions of Ole Miss are gradually being peeled away until it will no longer be the same beloved university. It does have a history that was involved bitter words and actions long ago. But it is a history that all who attend there know about and can see the progress made toward racial equality. Why destroy that history to protect the “sight” of a few? If it offends – think of the history and progress made in all the years. Don’t tear it down. Let it be a memorial of change. In Oklahoma we have memorials to the OKC bombing. It is painful to see but it is neverthe less a part of our state’s history. We must remember to keep it from happening again.
Mark Barnabo
February 23, 2019 at 10:18 am
From an Ole Miss grad, Class of 1981 and 20 yr USAF vet.
Leave the statue alone! Let it symbolize how far we have gone from then, through the James Meredith years, to now.
As for the University establishing laws to protect from offensive speech…doesn’t the first amendment to the US Constitution provide for the right of free speech? While a student, I vividly remember a white supremacist standing of the steps of the Union loudly proclaiming his warped views. I listened for about 30 seconds, thought “What an idiot!” and continued to class. I chose not to let his views offend me and it surely did not foment violence. I was never threatened.
As a grad and member of the US Armed Services I lived a quote that my Google search attributes to Evelyn Beatrice Hall. “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
Can any of those students stand and proclaim the same to me?
Randy wilson
February 23, 2019 at 10:38 am
Let the band play Dixie
Jerry (WILEY) Stendebach (SMITH)
February 23, 2019 at 11:31 am
Better leave the historical flag of the south alone. The statue of the Confederate soldier is the reminder of the men and women who fought for a cause of freedom for the southern states of America.GET A ROPE.
Maggie Davis
February 23, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Go back to where you came from. You knew what you were getting when you chose Ole Miss and all the time you have spent marching and protesting AND looking for more ways to cause disturbance of thought or action,could be time used to decide if Ole Miss meets your needs. We don’t need you, or your money, thoughts and we really don’t need you if you can’t or won’t accept Ole Miss as it is or were.
christy grubbs
February 23, 2019 at 9:11 pm
it’s a wonder they didnt float away always heard crap floats