On Thursday, Sept. 4, over 200 WSU students walked a “March of Solidarity” for John Crawford, a 22-year old man who was shot last month in a Wal-Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, while holding a toy gun.
WSU’s Ethnic Theatre, the Black Student Union (BSU), NAACP and the Ohio Student Association collaborated to organize the march. BSU secretary Tristina Allen explained the goals of the march, which included spreading awareness about the shooting and about important social issues raised by the shooting.
“The purpose was to bring solidarity and acknowledge the lives lost because of discrimination, racism and/or cultural incompetence by the police,” said Allen. “We sought to bring the WSU community together to stand in power. We addressed the lack of transparency of Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Beavercreek police. We agreed to continually put pressure to ensure indictment of the police officer and justice for the family [of the deceased].”
The march was preceded with a performance from the Ethnic Theatre, and went from the Quad to the front of the university. It was led by performing arts student and the head of the Ethnic Theatre, Tommy DiMassimo. Once the students reached the front of the school, they also posed for a “Hands up, don’t shoot” photo in front of the main entrance sign.
