Missouri protests against racism resonate on Riverdale campus

Correction appended.

On Monday afternoon, about 50 people gathered in the quad on Manhattan College’s campus to show their solidarity with the student movement against racism at the University of Missouri. Many signed a banner that read, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

For several weeks, students at the University of Missouri have been protesting against the administration for what they call ignoring and even tacitly allowing racism on campus. The president and chancellor of the school stepped down last week amid the controversy.

Manhattan College senior Celena Gonzalez said she and a few friends decided on Nov. 13 to organize an event on their 4513 Manhattan College Parkway campus.

“I believe it’s important to respond to what is happening in Missouri,” she said, noting that recently, there has been backlash against the student protestors. “I want to avoid that here. I want to show we support them even if it’s controversial.”

Brother Jack Curran led the students in a convocation to start the vigil, pointing out that Pope Francis has called racism the “ultimate, ultimate evil.”

“We must pray to rid ourselves of this evil,” he said.

For about half an hour, students got up and read excerpts from poems and speeches that addressed racism in the United States. Others read articles about the protests in Missouri or shared their own thoughts on the issue.

Several members of the college administration were present; Lois Harr, the director of Campus Ministry and Social Action, read an excerpt from a speech by Frederick Douglass.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress,” she quoted. “Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning.”

Several white students stood in front of the group and pledged to do their part in addressing racial privilege on campus.

“I think it was very important for the student body to raise awareness,” Manhattan College junior Mahamoud Diop said after the vigil.

Mr. Diop, who is originally from Mali in West Africa, said overall, he thinks Manhattan College does a good job at handling race issues.