Students speak out against racism

5/3/2010
By Laura Podgornik
For 91.3 KUWS FM

Around 30 to 40 students and faculty gathered at the University of Wisconsin - Superior to say there’s no room in their hearts for prejudice.  

The crowd formed slowly as people greeted one another outside UWS’ Jim Dan Hill Library. People formed a circle while Co-President of UWS’ Black Student Union Kym Young spoke. Young organized the solidarity gathering for students who couldn’t attend a march at the University of Minnesota-Duluth at the same time.  

“This morning, as on several of our University and high school campuses across the Twin Ports, people of all races, nationalities, religions and creeds are gathering or marching in response to act of racism. We here have come together to say ‘Enough.’ We are standing up for a new day and a new way of thinking. We are here today to say, ‘No, we will not tolerate or accept racism, racist remarks or attitudes in our UWS home,” said Young.   

All gatherings are in response to reports of a racist Facebook exchange between two female students at the University of Minnesota-Duluth last month. UW-Superior freshman Binta Sidibe said she was happy to participate. 

“It brings awareness to all the students that there’s still discrimination against like race and ethnicity and pretty much all kind of minority groups,” said Sidibe. 

Sidibe is originally from the Ivory Coast in Africa. She says racism affects everyone. 

“We’re all facing those kind of actions, not only physically but also mentally,” she said. 

At the close of the gathering, Young had the group hold hands. 

“And now as one voice, let us raise our hands and say, “Enough!” she said.  

Young also passed out buttons with the message “No room in my heart for prejudice.”