At 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, a hush fell over those gathered in the HUB lobby as a line of 150 students dressed in all black gathered around the stairwell to carry out a demonstration protesting lack of inclusivity on campus. The gathering was organized by the Student Liberation Movement.

In call and response style, Breahna Pierce ’17, introduced the demonstration by saying, “This is how we’ve experienced inclusion so far.” Demonstrators responded with statements that had previously been directed towards them, such as “You should just forget slavery,” “You hit like a girl,” and “You’re attractive for an Asian.”

“These are the things that we will no longer tolerate,” stated Ikram Rabbani ’17, whose peer, Erik Rivera ’17 challenged onlookers to “not tolerate what [ignorant students] state.”

The group who, according to a July 20 Facebook post on their page, changed their name from Why We Wear Black to the Student Liberation Movement in an effort to stress intersectionality, spoke on behalf of several other groups: women, first generation students, LGBTQ+ students and students with disabilities, among several other “historically marginalized groups,” stated Pierce.

Approximately 150 students participated in the protest, slightly outnumbering the crowd that gathered in the HUB lobby to witness the demonstration.

“Today we stand together as Dickinsonians,” announced Rabbani, “and we speak out against any discrimination… [and] against institutional and structural injustices that are placing students at a disadvantage…”

The group closed by chanting the word “àşę,” the “Yoruba concept meaning power, command, authority, that evokes… one’s agency to bring his or her will into manifestation,” stated Rivera. This was followed by a final chorus of “Speak up, speak out.”

The demonstration prompted diverse reaction after its conclusion.

Savanna Riley ’17, who witnessed the event, said she was “proud” of the Student Liberation Movement. “I am definitely interested to see what Dickinson will do moving forward,” she said.

Philip Morabito ’17 echoed these thoughts saying, “I’m interested to see what happens on social media afterwards.”

Thomas O’Donnell ’19, who participated in the demonstration, was “surprised that so many people felt the same way that I did. It gave me chills. I was proud to be a part of it.”

Another participant, Charlie Portillo ’20, said “The fact that all these people came together made you feel included… It was moving.”

Vice President and Dean of Student Life Joyce Bylander said the demonstration “… was powerful and amazing and in the spirit of Dickinson… it was such a Dickinsonian thing to do. I’m really proud of them… all of them stood together to make the world a better place.”

Others felt the demonstration was significant to even those who did not witness the event.

“This is something everybody is involved in, even if they don’t realize it,” says Kevin Ssonko ’20.

“We know that we can foster a community that acknowledges us and values us,” Rivera called out during the demonstration. “As long as we speak up and speak out.”