Boston College: Don't Punish Students for Protesting Racism!
Boston College issued a warning to an anti-racist group after a Christmas protest that addressed institutional racism at the school.
In December 2015, the group Eradicate Boston College Racism donned Santa hats and sang Christmas carol parodies that called attention to institutional racism. One song included the lyrics, "Dear Trustees, are you listenin’? A real plan you are missin.’ Until you agree, and change do we see, we’re walkin’ through a white man’s wonderland." The administration later met with the group warning them that the caroling violated campus rules because they didn't ask for a permit, and was disruptive to student learning. The group argued that institutional racism is disruptive to student learning.
According to group activists Kevin Ferreira and Cedrick-Michael Simmons, faculty members were instructed not to speak on behalf of their group. Activists also say that the administration criticized them for releasing infographics on how to address racism on campus.
Silencing students and intimidating faculty members are poor solutions for dealing with criticism. If there is a problem with institutional racism, the College should work with activists to combat the problem, not silence their efforts. Please sign the petition to urge Boston College to stop warning and punishing students for protesting racism!
We, the undersigned, are concerned that Boston College administrators issued a warning to an anti-racist group after a Christmas protest that addressed institutional racism at the school.
In December 2015, the group Eradicate Boston College Racism donned Santa hats and sang Christmas carol parodies that called attention to institutional racism. One song included the lyrics, "Dear Trustees, are you listenin’? A real plan you are missin.’ Until you agree, and change do we see, we’re walkin’ through a white man’s wonderland." The administration later met with the group warning them that the caroling violated campus rules because they didn't ask for a permit, and was disruptive to student learning. The group argued that institutional racism is disruptive to student learning.
According to group activists Kevin Ferreira and Cedrick-Michael Simmons, faculty members were instructed not to speak on behalf of their group. Activists also say that the administration criticized them for releasing infographics on how to address racism on campus.
Silencing students and intimidating faculty members are poor solutions for dealing with criticism. If there is a problem with institutional racism, the College should work with activists to combat the problem, not prevent them from drawing attention to the problem. Please sign the petition to urge Boston College to stop warning and punishing students for protesting racism!
