UD students, faculty gather at Trabant for 'Die In' silent protest

3:10 p.m., Dec. 4, 2014--University of Delaware students and faculty members from across campus gathered at noon, Thursday, Dec. 4, in the Trabant University Center for a “Die In” silent protest over the recent deaths and subsequent grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.

The campus protest was held to address the issues of race in the United States and the recent grand jury decisions not to indict police officers in the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York, a representative said.

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Students assembled in Trabant around noon and fell down on the floor for 45 minutes with signs reading “No Justice, No Peace,” “Hands Up Don't Shoot,” “Justice for Mike Brown” and “Black Lives Matter.”

During the protest, many students who were passing by joined in the protest, getting down on the floor as well. 

Brett Tielman-Fenelus, student leader and member of the Nu Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., stood up and quoted the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., saying, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere -- the University asks us to 'Dare to be First' so we must be the first to speak up."

He added that the community must “stand together against injustice, against the criminalizing of black men in America, and we must speak up for all races -- black, white, Asian and Muslim.”

The silent protest was a joint effort to rally the community in solidarity around this issue and students are planning another event on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Ayanna Gill