Here’s their statement…….
Law students from around the region, faculty, alumni and other supporters gathered at Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street to before Saturday’s March for Justice in downtown Washington, one of at least a dozen protests throughout the District and surrounding area. UDC Law’s Student Bar Association (SBA) and Black Law Students Association (BLSA) spearheaded the March for Justice, inviting faculty, staff, students and alumni from law schools around D.C. as well as friends, family and volunteers. The demonstration included contingents from Howard University School of Law, American University Washington College of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America and the George Washington University Law School. The event even drew a handful of admitted students who have yet to attend their first class at UDC Law but were eager to be a part of this powerful illustration of the law school’s mission. Volunteers handed out food, water, first-aid, hand sanitizer and other supplies and assisted with the distribution of flyers and information detailing protestors’ rights.
Prior to the start of the march, UDC Law Dean Renée Hutchins addressed the crowd, telling them “we have a lot of work to do” and placing the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery within the greater historical context of black deaths before asking, “What is the legacy going to be of this moment?” and urging the listeners to identify ways to continue taking action. Other speakers at the rally before the march included organizers Tonée Jones, Nina Ego-Osuala and Asha Burwell.
The group grew exponentially as they walked from the Capitol to the newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza and later to Malcolm X Park chanting “No justice, no peace” to a backdrop of signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “Stop killing us.” Other signs called for the more active stance of anti-racism over non-racism, expressed support for anger in the face of injustice and urged the dismantling of oppressive systems. Particularly symbolic of a gathering organized by one of the nation’s six HBCU law schools, one sign read “Keep calm. Future lawyers are here” and several students donned black t-shirts with “Black Lawyers Matter” in bold white font. The t-shirt was one of two commissioned by Jones, who serves as Vice President of the UDC Law SBA; the other commemorated the day with the words March for Justice and an upraised fist.
Together, the weekend’s events drew the largest crowds yet after a week of demonstrations in response to the police killing of George Floyd. DCist described the weekend’s protests as “marked by a new kind of energy—joyful, celebratory, even triumphant.”
In a message to students, faculty and staff, Ego-Osuala wrote, “I sit in awe thinking about what we were able to do and how many people we were able to bring together to march for justice. People from all walks of life who understand the importance of having our voices heard and reiterating the fact that black lives matter. If they did not hear us before Saturday, they surely hear us now.” After thanking everyone who was instrumental in the march’s success, she concluded by saying, “We will continue to fight for the right to be Black in America and live free.”
The students’ efforts were captured by several local media outlets. Special thanks goes to Mikaela Lefrak of WAMU, Tom Dempsey of WUSA9 and Ken Duffy of WTOP for speaking with our students and walking with them along a portion of the route. For full media coverage of UDC Law’s March for Justice, see…
- Thousands gathered across city to protest death of George Floyd – The Washington Post (Prof. Phil Lee at 2:19 p.m. and Jones at 1:43 p.m.)
- Live updates: D.C. leaders announce legislation to reform policing in the District – WUSA9
- WUSA9’s Tom Dempsey interviews Jones (2:15)
- An illustrated look at Saturday’s D.C. protests against police brutality – DCist (Ruth Tam draws UDC)
- Live updates: D.C.’s biggest day of protests begins with large gathering at the Lincoln Memorial – DCist (Hasty in last photo in first carousel)
- “‘Racism is a pandemic, too:’ Thousands descend on D.C. in biggest protest yet” – WUSA9
- Protesters hope movement creates tangible change in federal laws, US justice system (ABC 33/40, Birmingham, Ala.)
- Even with large crowds and extreme heat, a peaceful 9th day of George Floyd protests in DC – WTOP (Dean Hutchins quoted)
- Ken Duffy (WTOP) on Twitter
- Mikaela Lefrak (WAMU) on Twitter (quote from Hasty)
Read full article at https://www.law.udc.edu/news/511701/UDC-Law-SBA-and-BLSA-organize-March-for-Justice.htm
