Students gathered in the CUB on Thursday afternoon to listen to speakers and rally for Ferguson.

The Diversity and Cultural Affairs Committee partnered with the office of Multicultural Student Affairs and came together to put the event together. The event informed students not only about the shooting that took place in Ferguson, Missouri, but the U.S. justice system as well.

The news has filled people’s minds with the tragedy in Missouri. An unarmed African American teenager, Michael Brown, was shot and killed on Aug. 9 by a white police officer in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis. The shooting provoked protests in the surrounding area for weeks.

On Nov. 24, the prosecutor of St. Louis announced that the grand jury voted not to indict officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown.

Justice or injustice was brought up in almost every scenario that was presented by speakers at the rally on Thursday. Everyone in attendance was thanked for coming out to support.

Society has a right to be angry with what has taken place and that our lives are of equal value, a speaker said. We are reminded that nothing should matter, whether it is color, race or ethnicity.

The floor was open to students who wanted to express any events they have recently experienced due to their race. One student made his way to the front of the room and spoke passionately about others’ words that have hurt not only him but could be hurtful to others.

“I have numerous screen shots of absolutely hateful comments from Yik Yak,” Kareem Anthony said. “ Ya’ll should ashamed, nothing is resolved from hateful comments. We need to stop being so hateful!” Anthony said, with emotions running high.

Stephanie Jirard, professor of criminal justice at Shippensburg University was invited to speak at the rally. “We the people!” Jirard said, “These are three words that we need to remember.”

Those important words were repeatedly spoken with enthusiasm as students were reminded of their significance and meaning. Jirard spoke about how people are ruled by the consent of the government and how people control the government.

“The way to change the system is to be in the system. We need to take power back,” Jirard said at the end of her speech.

Professor Raymond Janifer also spoke about the American tragedy and nightmare that seems to be a reoccurrence. Michael Brown did not deserve to die, no one deserves to be shot 10 times and no person should ever be treated like a target, Janifer said.

Former police officer Dwayne Marshall presented the audience with data and statistics on events that have taken place since the Michael Brown case.

Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, an associate professor at Temple University, was the last speaker at the rally.

“Long live the passionate revolution for creative intelligence” was a quote she used as a reference while she was speaking. She, along with the other speakers, kept reminding the audience about the importance of justice. If we want to see a change, we must be that change, Williams-Witherspoon said.

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