Students at UNC discuss impact of Ferguson decision
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- More than 100 UNC-Chapel Hill students from various student groups gathered in the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History to continue their conversation about Ferguson, Missouri and plan how to raise awareness on campus about racism in America.
"Letting people know that there are a lot of people around that agree with them and giving them a forum to sharpen their ideas is a fantastic thing," said Jonah Howell with the UNControllables, an anarchist group on campus.
The meeting started with a four-and-a-half minute silence, marking the four-and-a-half hours that Michael Brown's body lay in the street after his death.
In August, Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who is white, shot and killed the unarmed 18-year-old, who was black, following a confrontation. Last week, a grand jury refused to indict Wilson for Brown's murder, which set off anger and looting in the town and nationwide protests -- including demonstrations in the Triangle.
"In all honesty, it's about a systematic and national change," said UNC student Mariah Monsanto.
Last week, about 500 gathered outside UNC's student union for a "die-in" where students lay on the ground imitating Brown's final moments. Some of the students were visibly upset, while others were frustrated that university officials were silent about the issue.
"Our chancellor has yet to make a statement about Ferguson and I'm just really grateful to be with this community of people who are concerned," said Tomiko Hackett with the Radical Angry Asian Alliance on campus.
The students discussed several ways they can make a difference constructively expressing their anger in the near future.
"What we should [do] economically is only support the businesses that are for us, that were built by us that are seeking to assist us," explained UNC Student Levincent Clark Jr.
The action will start of Tuesday. At noon, many students who attended the discussion will raise their hands up in class four-and-a-half minutes. Wednesday, the group is planning to block foot traffic in the Pit. They also plan to create a national list of people they say have suffered brutality or death at the hands of law enforcement and post those pictures and names at various locations across campus.
"I've been so proud of what we've been able to accomplish having these actions come up overnight. So I'm just imagining what can happen with months of planning," Black Student Movement member Ashley Winkfield told ABC11.
