Prior to leaving my last morning class for the day on Monday, I was not exactly expecting to be a part of a protest of silence that, in its own powerful way, spoke volumes. As I was on my way back to my dorm building and passing UNCG's Student Union Center, I overheard a few peers mentioning a "protest in the EUC" that had something to do with the recent Charlotte Black Lives Matter protest and police shooting. I personally have been interested in both supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and what it stands for, as well as wanting to personally be apart of a protest helping to work towards solving a social issue. I changed my route from going to my dorm room to heading towards the campus' student center.
Upon walking in, I noticed students with tape across their mouths, shirts with the names of those who have been killed at the hands of police brutality, students holding up their hands, and laying on the ground. These styles of protests, which varied from person to person, extended for the entirety of the hallway of the Student Center. As far down the hall as one could look, every inch of floor surrounding the walkway was flooded with black clothing and silence. The existing silence within this protest was, in its own way, deafening. There would not be enough words in the world to even begin to describe the passion and the frustration amongst the participating students, and the intentional silence was effectively bringing the issue of racial discrimination to light.
Personally, simply standing there and witnessing a type of protest one would usually see covered on the news gave me goosebumps. It was truly honorable to even witness such a powerful protest that has attracted millennials who truly crave and fight for a better future for themselves and for their future generations. I sat down with protestors who were sitting close to the Student Center entrance as a sign of support. Simply being one small part of such a large movement made me increasingly crave the change that I knew the African American community deserves from law enforcement. Black Lives Matter is undoubtedly a movement in which I had supported even before witnessing and joining this on-campus protest, but physically joining a protest much larger than myself was irreplaceably eye-opening.
After the protest had ended for that time of day, those sitting down with me stood up and hugged each other. I was told by fellow peers whom I had never met that I was loved and appreciated. This treatment alone simply disproved any statement that the Black Lives Matter Movement is ill-intentioned. These people simply want fairness and equality. They want a bright and better future for themselves, their peers, and for future generations. These are the protests that see future generations' history books. These are the protests that pave the way towards true equality for all. Events like this only prove the obvious; those living a life free of discrimination must do their parts for their fellow American citizens, and help those who need that same treatment in life.
