What happened at today’s blackout demonstration

Starting today outside Gasson Hall at 12.15pm

A blackout demonstration is underway starting at 12.15pm today at Gasson Hall – stay tuned on here for live updates.

An event on Facebook, Blackout: Mizzou We Stand With You, urges students to wear black today in support of the students at Missouri.

Nationally, students are gathering on their respective campuses at 12:30pm.

The event is hosted by senior Afua Laast, UGBC’s Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, who gained a permit for the protest earlier this morning.


12.27 The demonstration is now over and the speakers have finished. We spoke to students there about why they took part.

Akosua Opokua-Achampong and Lisa Edouard

Sophomore Akosua Opokua-Achampong said: “Today meant a lot of things to a lot of people and this is something that people have to deal with every day, students of color on campus, marginalized populations.

“And today was finally the day where you could say people are acknowledging their pain.

“People who also feel it and contribute to it knowingly or unknowingly. And it’s about the fact that we can support our brothers and sisters on different campuses, whether it be Yale, Ithaca or Missouri.”

Senior Lisa Edouard added: “I definitely agree, it was a moment to show we have not only have solidarity for those at Missouri but on our campus.

“We all realize there is an issue here and we want to work together, no matter what race, no matter what sex, to actually combat this issue. It’s beautiful.

“I’m a senior and I’ve never seen something like where everyone came together. It really moved me.”

Laura-Kay Demezieux, Applied Psychology and Math Major

“I’m here today because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. I’m here today because my freshman year, a white student told me that because I was black, I should twerk for their entertainment. I’m here today because enough is enough.”

Lauren Bagger, Biology Major from Georgia

“I’m here because I finally wanted to be able to see the minority body at BC come together at once and have an outlet.

“We’re all frustrated and going about it in peaceful ways. There’s a pride there with uniting together. I’m porridge them and it makes me proud of myself.”

Susie Hoy, Chem Major from Medford, NJ

“I’m here because I want to stand in solidarity with the people who are suffering from racism all across the nation and especially at Mizzou. It needs to be discussed more often than it has been. Being here will help to facilitate a discussion that needs to happen.”

Joe Arquillo

Joe Arquillo, a BC junior, added: “It’s important to me because we have to stand by those who are marginalized not just at Mizzou, Ithaca, and Yale but at every university.

“But also show that it’s possible to gather students to speak out against injustices that are happening everywhere, and hopefully inspire other students to do the same.”


12:20 Half the quad is filled with over 100 people braving the rain to join the demonstration.

Speakers are being invited up to address the crowd.

BC’s Father Michael spoke about having unconditional love for others regardless of pigmentation.

The demonstrators thanked the BC administrators for their allowance of the event today.

Students put their fists up in the air at the end of the 15 minute protest as applause broke out.

Associate Sociology Professor Clifton McGuffey said: “I have been here for ten years, and I have never seen so much solidarity.

“I am tired of the pushback. There is a low number of diverse administrators. It’s hard to see myself in the front of the classroom.

“We need to express this love to each other.”

Host Afua Laast said: “We’re letting them know what’s going on, discussing what’s going on at Boston College and questioning the systems that affect people of color and people everywhere, everyone, all of us students, all here together. We are brothers and sisters and we are here.

“We have to support each other. What we’re going to do is invite you to share your own stories.”

12.14 People have started to gather at Gasson Hall.

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