Activism
Violence and chaos occurring in Baltimore can warrant no justification. Innocent, hardworking people who serve the city are now becoming unnecessary victims of the widespread destruction. Peace seems to be a distant thought and will remain as such until the real issues behind the questionable death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray are explored.
To paint the picture, Freddie Gray’s death stands as a tipping point regarding the underlying, mostly unnoticed issues that has led to rioting. For the many people living in poverty and disparity, police brutality compounded with a financial security and educational resources seems to reinforce a feeling that black lives still don’t matter in our society. Even after the events in Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere, there appears to be little change and almost no progress.
When issues such as these consistently go unresolved, violence can be inevitable. Victims of structural violence and poverty might rightfully view it as a way to attract attention and push for change. By no means can we condone these riots; children need to go back to school, store owners need to go back to work. But lives need to be preserved.
As college students, we must understand the importance of the Baltimore situation. On a college campus, we are in the prime spot to take nonviolent action and stand for the injustices plaguing our community.
This university in particular has the unique ability to bring and engage students in active discussions. Many students have close ties to Baltimore and these events resonate deeply within our student body. Many are shocked at how such violent events could even occur in a city we love and call home.
This editorial board applauds this university for organizing events such as the Critical Race Initiative-hosted symposium Tuesday. The theme of the symposium was “Intellectual Activism, Social Justice, and Criminalization,” and while it was originally planned to center around Michael Brown’s and Eric Garner’s deaths, recent events rightfully turned the discussion toward the Baltimore protests — a topic heavy in the hearts of many on this campus.
The panel discussed issues on race and police brutality and emphasized the ineffectiveness of traditional approaches and the court system in resolving problems of structural violence and oppression. Therefore, it is crucial that students strive to enact change. Whether by community activism or peaceful protesting, students must use relentless pressure to resolve these societal problems.
In addition, student groups, such as the University Bloc, Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society, the Student Labor Action Project and Community Roots have already established protest groups and student and community discussions.
We’re glad to see the activism promoted by this university and our student body, but we can’t stop there. On a campus of this magnitude, we must use the momentum from these initiatives to encourage more students to join. We can have a significant impact on the way our community deals with these societal injustices. Baltimore and places like it are our reflections, our stories. Change is uncomfortable, but we urge students to face and rectify — the root causes of injustice.
