Protests continued Sunday at SUNY Oswego denouncing police brutality and systemic racism.
They were asking for their list of demands to be met addressing police reform, diversity and inclusion.
What You Need To Know
- There was a Juneteenth demonstration on Sunday for Black Liberation Day
- Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow and SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley asked to raise the Black Lives Matter flag on campus but only Stanley showed up
- The Student Association Executive Branch came up with a list of demands, asking for diversity courses in their curriculum and Black Solidarity Day to be recognized as a holiday on campus
Geri Skipper joined others in the march for freedom against racism.
"Black lives matter right now. It’s about everyone's life matters, but right it’s time for black Americans to speak up,” she said.
It’s the second Black Lives Matter march on campus she has attended, and said this cause hits close to home.
“I was called the n- word a number of times growing up,’ she disclosed.
She proclaimed racism is embedded nationwide and in Oswego, and said enough is enough.
“We were taught to kind of just be quiet. It’ll get better under the rug. Let it go," she recalled.
However, she no longer has to be quiet as she marches among hundreds like her who are also speaking out.
They marched until they reached Sheldon Hall, where they stood still to watch the Black Lives Matter Flag be raised with SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley.
“I just want to see some changes,” said Skipper.
Those changes she said need to come both the streets, indoors, and on campuses like SUNY Oswego.
Organizers of the march said racism is prevalent in classrooms as well.
“Professors told me 'maybe school is not for you. You should go to KFC. They are hiring there,'” Skipper said.
Although officials allege the racist climate has changed over time, protestors said it's not enough.
The Student Association Executive Branch of SUNY Oswego came up with a list of demands for President Stanley and Oswego Mayor Bill Barlow.
“To ask for more diversity courses in our curriculum and Black Solidarity Day to be recognized as a holiday in our campus,” said one of the organizers Lizeth Ortega.
“We want to sit as a group and see how they will be accomplished,” said President Deborah Stanley.
She mentioned because school is out of session, she won't expect to see any movement on these demands until the fall.
Until then, for some like Skipper, marching up and down the streets is a start to accomplishing the overarching goal of trying to end racism and injustice within our current system.