MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Several students with a list of race-based demands commandeered University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler’s office Monday and refused to leave.
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom,” one student yelled in the president’s office, according to the Star Tribune.
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A chorus later erupted into “I believe that we will win; I believe that we will win.”
Several students brought sleeping bags and supplies, apparently planning to stay overnight.
Among their demands, according to the paper:
* Greater racial and ethnic diversity in university hiring practices
* More money for the school’s ethnic studies program* Removing descriptions of race and complexion from campus crime alerts
* Making enrolling in an ethnic studies class a requirement of all students
* Offering greater bathroom access for “all genders”
* Removing from admissions applications any questions about criminal history of prospective students
Protesters posted a number of photos and videos:
We must fight, we must stand up! We have nothing to loose but our chains- assata shakur pic.twitter.com/Yb8YSujsMv
— WhoseDiversity (@WhoseDiv) February 9, 2015
Radical action by @WhoseDiv at aimed @PrezKaler & racist UofMN. #KalerUPromised #MoralMarchOnMorrill #WhoseDiversity pic.twitter.com/3EQWedGhQv
— EMPⒶTHY (@MrNikoG) February 9, 2015
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Finally taking to the provost about our demands… They better feel the pressure! .@BlackLivesMpls pic.twitter.com/Mg1ag83H4E
— WhoseDiversity (@WhoseDiv) February 9, 2015
The cops are being racist indoor and not allowing anyone in despite this being our university! pic.twitter.com/jjNv4DzryX
— WhoseDiversity (@WhoseDiv) February 9, 2015
They even read aloud some writings of former Black Panther-turned-professor Angela Davis:
While we wait for administrators we are reading some radical work by Angela Davis .@BlackLivesMpls #whosediv pic.twitter.com/FrVbnWu8Oq
— WhoseDiversity (@WhoseDiv) February 9, 2015
The Star Tribune reports two hours after the takeover, the university released a detailed statement in support of “the right of free speech and peaceful protest” and a belief that “frank conversations are vital for issues that affect the campus community.”
University brass say they have an “urgent commitment” to increase diversity.
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