Eric Garner was 43 when he was choked to death by police. Trayvon Martin was 17 when he was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Tamir Rice was 12 when he was shot by two police officers in Ohio. “Black Lives Matter” is not a new saying, but the African-American Student Alliance (AASA) proved it is more relevant than ever.

This message was brought to College of DuPage through the AASA on Feb. 16  at noon. For 16 minutes, students held signs and laid “dead” on the floor of Campus Central. These 16 minutes represented 16 lives that were taken away by police brutality in recent times including the lives of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice. There were no words spoken, no actions taking place. The students simply stood in complete, peaceful silence and attracted the attention of students who flooded through the atrium.

Signs read, “Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” “Black Lives Matter,” and other quotes. In conjunction with the silent occupancy, a video played which students were able to watch; it walked onlookers through different cases of police brutality against people of color.

The video played footage of police officers shooting and what really happened when these various African American lives were taken, in the background played “Glory” by John Legend and Common, originally played in the movie, “Selma.” The video and music proved to be emotional for onlookers, as even passersby observed a moment of silence in the otherwise soundless atrium. The video was created by Tanika Moore, first year student and member of the alliance and is available to be viewed at codcourier.org.

It was not just audience members who got something out of the event, but AASA members as well, “I felt as though I was a part of something larger than myself,” said Skywren Webb, Community Outreach Officer for the AASA. “I felt that through this small act, real change could actually happen. As someone who has had to deal with profiling and harassment by law enforcement, it felt like I was fighting back for myself and others who have been subjected to the same treatment.”

AASA felt as though COD was the perfect place to bring this movement. “Minorities represent a smaller part of the population here on campus, but the issues we face in society are still relevant. This demonstration was not only to show that we at COD support the movement, but that we also have a powerful voice on this campus,” added Webb.
Black History Month is a month to recognize those who have made great positive changes to society. On top of the college’s month-long celebrations, the AASA showed students that racism and prejudice is not something of the past. “I hope that the demonstration not only shed some light on the true meaning of #BLACKLIVESMATTER but also opens up a dialogue between students, professors and administrators,” said Webb, “I believe once this is accomplished we can foster a sense of understanding and openness between different groups of people that can lead to tangible solutions.”