ROGERS PARK — On Wednesday, members of Loyola's student governemnt released an open letter to the community addressing their thoughts on the recent racially motivated shooting in Charleston, S.C., that killed nine members of a historically black church.
In the letter, Michael Fasullo, president of the student government, reflects on Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech, saying, "I imagine Dr. King would decry the racial injustices that continue in the United States."
Fasullo said although people may feel strongly about racism or acts of violence that make national news, he fears that without putting action behind those beliefs, the cycle of violence and injustices will continue.
"As a student leader, I often times fear that our mostly white community forgets about the struggles students of color face, specifically black students," the letter says. "Though I will never know their experience, I can imagine the hardships that are produced from living in a country where the Confederate flag still flies and blacks are statistically more likely to be shot dead by the police. Dr. King’s words, though iterated fifty years ago, are words that should continue to ring in all of our eardrums today, especially the ears of non-black students."
The full letter is available below.
Loyola University is located in Rogers Park — a community unfortunately not unfamilar with violence.
According to DNAinfo Chicago data, at least 15 people have been shot in Rogers Park in 2015 alone, including a 22-year-old man who was shot twice near Gale Elementary School after supposedly talking online about a recently slain rapper, Young Pappy, causing the school to temporarily cancel recess. Another man was also shot the same day.
"We must never forget the power that comes with solidarity," Fasullo wrote. "Ultimately, I know that Loyola will be at its strongest when our community recognizes this, and heeds Dr. King's call."
Loyola's student government released a letter Wednesday decrying the violent shooting in Charleston, S.C. and called for action from the community. [Facebook/Loyola University]
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