Article by Scott Cummings '24
Photography by Zachary Lutzky '24
On the late morning of Saturday, August 29th, I heard shouting outside Taliaferro Hall. Peering from beyond the window, I saw a large group of student protestors for Black Lives Matter sitting along Jamestown Road, holding signs and blocking traffic around the eastern edge of Old Campus. About an hour later, I went outside to get a better look at the protest and possibly talk to one of the participants. The protestors were no longer sitting in the road, but standing alongside it.
I walked down the road and took note of the signs, on both white poster boards and on brown cardboard. I recorded some of the messages they carried:
“NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”
“W&M’S BLACK LIVES MATTER”
“BLACK MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS”
“W&M YOU ASKED TO BE BOLD. YOUR TURN”
“SAY THEIR NAMES”
“STOP KILLING BLACK PEOPLE”
“WHY IS ENDING RACISM A DEBATE?”
“ONE FAMILY, ONE LOVE, WAKE UP AMERICA”
Along with signs carried by student protestors, one of the organizers used a megaphone to project her message. “It is important that you speak up when you see people being mistreated. We need legislation. We need additional programs. We need abolition. Keep a quiet pressure. Black students matter. Black athletes matter.”
She engaged the protestors with call-and-response statements:
“BLACK LIVES…”
“MATTER!”
“STAND UP…”
“FIGHT BACK!”
Following the conclusion of the protest, these signs were collected by group leaders who wore black shirts. I had the opportunity to interview one of these group leaders, Alex Loukili ‘22, for the DoG Street Journal. He shared that these protests have been going on every Saturday since June.
I then asked what reforms he would like to see in America.
Loukili replied, “more equity to people of color,” and he also supported reform in mental health and police departments’ training. “Police in the U.S. serve to keep peace, but are overburdened with the responsibility to defuse situations”—something social workers are better equipped to handle. He also encourages society to overcome bias.
Upon his reasons for personally being involved, Alex stated, “I feel like it’s morally right to raise awareness.” He cited his track and field teammate Felecia Hayes ‘21 —who organizes these weekly protests with the help of other student athletes and leaders—as a reason why it’s important to support others.
Alex also shared some details about the logistics of the operation. Through social media, protestors set times and publicized information about upcoming events through routine posts. The signs I saw earlier, numbering around 30 in total, were made by planning groups. The group leaders are keen to protect protestors’ health. For the Williamsburg heat, they bring water bottles to distribute to thirsty protestors.
William & Mary’s zero-tolerance policy for COVID-19 led the protestors to intensify planning. Along the brick sidewalks of Jamestown road are chalk X’s to keep protestors socially distant. Group leaders have also coordinated protest times with William & Mary’s police department, a far cry from the antagonism that seems to dominate depictions of BLM and drown out serious discussions of policies.
I asked Alex if he had any last words for our readers: “Students, vote and use your privilege to donate to causes that raise awareness.”
Now, it’s been months, and the protests are still continuing. However, it may seem that some of the vigor of the movement outside of our college campus has faded. The Breonna Taylor case, where an unarmed black woman was shot by police, ended with the officer involved walking free. The Reddit logo, previously a stark black and white in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, has reverted to its normal orange. Though the recent shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. and subsequent demonstrations show that the Black Lives Matter movement is still in full force.
The on-campus protests remain steadfast and have become a consistent part of William and Mary’s student culture. Two months after arriving on campus, I interviewed Ava Edwards ‘24, a participant in the protests.
DSJ: What does protesting mean to you personally? What got you involved?
AE: Being a woman, and a person of color, protesting is everything. It’s the reason I’ll have the right to vote on election day, or not have to choose whether or not I pass as white. To me, protesting is standing up against an oppressive system and making sure the corruption of our government is brought to the forefront in order for a change to be made.
DSJ: What are some changes you would like to see in society?
AE: There is a façade that our society has everyone’s interest at heart. When in fact, they only have the interest of the white and wealthy. Everyone must first accept this fact before any permanent change can happen. Then a conversation of significant reconstruction can begin.
DSJ: These protests have been going on for quite some time, do you have any comments on that?
AE: They will continue (as they should) until the necessary action has been taken by our governing body, and sadly that could take/has taken a while.
DSJ: Finally, do you have any remarks you would like to share with our readers?
AE: BLM protests are every Saturday @ 12 on Confusion Corner. It's an uplifting experience that can bring hope to those most in need of it. It feels good to know that there are so many people in such a small vicinity that share a common belief system. It truly does give one hope for the future.
For more information on upcoming protests, check out Peaceful Protests - Williamsburg's Facebook page and direct questions to Felecia Hayes (fahayes@email.wm.edu).