The Black Student Union (BSU), in collaboration with Campus Life and Student Engagement and Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, is hosting the panel “So…Black Lives Matter?” on Oct. 18 in the UC Pit from 7-9 p.m. During the panel, community members, whose names have not been announced yet, will discuss social issues that impact the black community.
Kadeem Hall, sophomore biology major and president of BSU, said that the panel is part of the club’s “implode to explode platform.” Hall said that implode refers to the learning process about black culture and the self and explode refers to breaking out into the community to spread that information
“A lot of the issues that we have today are from a lack of knowledge,” said Hall.
The phrase “black lives matter” refers to a national grassroots organization. Nelson Bass, assistant professor in the department of history and political science, said the Black Lives Matter organization and movement are an organic response to raise awareness about issues the black community faces, such as a higher rates of incarceration and police brutality.
In the past month, at least three instances where a black person was shot and killed by a police officer made national headlines.
Kalifa Gooden, senior political science major and secretary of BSU, said it’s important for individuals in the South Florida community to acknowledge occurrences around the country.
“We’re all citizens of America,” said Gooden.
Bass said that discussing instances that occur both locally and nationally helps connect the country and the young people who take part in the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I think you’re seeing the same trends everywhere. It doesn’t matter if you are in Charlotte or Tuscon, it seems that the things that Black Lives Matter is trying to raise are important everywhere,” said Bass.
Jimmy Camulius, junior legal studies major and vice president of BSU, said he hopes the panel will raise awareness about the black community through intellectual conversation.
“We’re not out here to show our angry face and fight with anybody or look for revenge. We’re all intellectual beings, and we can address this situation and look at what’s going on without blaming one another,” said Camulius.
For more information about the panel, students can visit the Facebook event page “So, Black Lives Matter?”
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National news related to Black Lives Matter and police shootings
Headline: Why Charlotte exploded and Tulsa prayed
Source: CNN
What happened: Terrence Crutcher was shot and killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sept. 16, and Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sept. 20. Police said they were responding to calls and thought both men were armed. Families of both 0Crutcher and Scott said the men were unarmed, and the killings resulted in protests in both cities.
Headline: LAPD: Video shows teen was armed before he was shot by police
Source: CNN
What happened: Police released video footage of the shooting of Carnell Snell Jr. who was shot and killed Oct. 1. The Los Angeles Police Department said the footage shows that Snell appeared to have a firearm before he was shot after fleeing from police. Later, the police learned that Snell did not have a real firearm but a replica.
Headline: Tyre King, 13, fatally shot by police in Cleveland, Ohio
Source: NBC News
What happened: Tyre King was shot and killed Sept. 16 after police say it appeared that he drew a firearm from his waistband. It was later revealed that King only had a BB gun.
