SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – “No Trump. No KKK. No fascist USA.”
“The people, united, will never be defeated.”
“If not us, then who? If not here, then where?”
Those were just a few of a number of chants employed during a rally outside the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union Monday morning. The two dozen or so students heard from a number of their fellow students, before marching on campus.
They are concerned about racial injustice, crimes committed against blacks where what they felt were unjust resolutions were reached, and political concerns — even encouraging students to vote in Tuesday’s midterm election, and even answer the question locally about a proposed landlord registry in Springfield.
“We need to demand an immediate abolition of the following: ICE’s fascism, patriarchal violence, systemic bigotry against LGBTQ comrades, the white supremacist reality of this nation that is exemplified by cases like the Nolan Wells case, and many such others,” said Marcus Robinson, a student who is involved in the Black Student Union and several other organizations on campus.
While some of the chants above may be seen as divisive, they don’t have to be, as long as you’re listening to another point of view, said another student.
“When did we become so comfortable being divided?” said Demarion Jackson. “When did we become comfortable watching our community struggle, while we wait for somebody else to do something about it? When did we decide that because someone belongs to a different organization, comes from a different background, or believes something different from us, we can no longer stand beside them? And, most importantly, when did we forget that the most power we have is when we stand together?”
Another student backed that point up.
“We might not understand every experience, but we can choose to listen, learn, and use our voices to challenge injustice, rather than remain silent when it doesn’t directly affect us,” said Corinna Thomas, internal vice president, UIS Student Government Association.
Thomas said families have been torn apart simply because of who they are; and just because you may not have experienced it, you should listen, learn, and use your voice.
