ROGERS PARK — Students at Loyola University's Lake Shore campus took to the streets in protest Monday to speak out against police brutality, in particular the Sept. 16 shooting by police of Tulsa, Okla. man Terence Crutcher.
In a post on social media, the school's Black Students Matter invited students to participate in an "emergency protest" scheduled for 3:45 p.m. "in light of the recent police murders of numerous unarmed Black people."
"That's the main reason that we're here today — across the world all the different shootings impact us in different ways... We protest for everyone, not just Chicago," said Sacora Williams of the school's Black Cultural Center. "I suffer PTSD every time a hear a new shooting has happened."
Wearing black, students came out in droves to support the Black Lives Matter and Black Students Matter groups, as well as numerous other clubs representing students of color and minority students.
"I think as a Mexican woman, I think it's important to come out here as an effort to not only lend my [support] to my friends and my loved ones and the black community that is in Rogers Park and Loyola but also to start to fight back against that anti-blackness that is prevalent in the Mexican community," sophomore Cristina Nunez said.
The protest eventually left campus for a walk down Sheridan Road where protestors sat for a moment of silence with fists raised.
#BlackOutChi moment of silence in the streets at Grandville & Sherdian | #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/hfU4MmeK4j
For some students, the recent shootings involving police officers and people of color, especially black men, hit close to home beyond just living in Chicago.
"Today's turnout was amazing," said student Kevin Williams. "I came here today because I identify as a black male, I see other black males being gunned down in the streets so I think I should speak up for those who no longer have a voice."
It's not the first time Loyola students have protested in solidarity with Black Lives Matter-led initiatives across the country.
Last November, students organized and protested to show support for students at the University of Missouri.
"I think it's been a long time coming, and last year's protests sparked the demonstration policy to change, but there's still progress and still work that's happening," Sacora said.
And to those who interpret the Black Lives Matter movement as an anti-white ideology?
"In simple summary, all lives will matter when black lives matter," Sacora said.
— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) September 26, 2016
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