Winthrop Athletics’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group organized a march from Eden Terrace parking lot to campus green to support a mural unveiling event by the student-led NAACP on Oct. 20.
Student athletes, coaches and activists marched in solidarity at Winthrop to support a fellow student organization (the NAACP) and to bring attention to problems facing the African-American community such as police brutality and societal exclusion.
“We just wanted to do a sign of unity for our student-athletes leading up to an event that was going on on campus that speaks to our student-athlete population, our staff, and really aligns with the statement that we put out this summer” said Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Business & Finance, Kelley Kish.
A solid black line snaked down Scholars Walk as marchers made their way to the campus green – some wearing shirts that read “ Black Lives Matter”.
An array of student athletes, ranging from volleyball to basketball, proudly marched with posters to demonstrate their support for fellow athletes and to bring attention to issues facing Black Americans. A lack of opportunity for minority communities and police brutality against African Americans were prevalent topics in the minds of many marching.
“The reason I’m out here is not just for unity, but because multiple communities have been depressed, [minority] communities have been locked down and scrutinized by a system that does not appreciate them nor show their work. And it’s about time that we actually as a school, as a community, as a whole state, a whole nation, show that this we cannot stand on any longer” said Dell Woodard, a junior and mass communication major.
“No matter where you look, no matter what team you’re on, there’s a black person, there’s a person of color” Woodard said.
A message of diversity and inclusion in athletics and at Winthrop was mirrored by Head Volleyball Coach Chuck Ray.
“We have such a diverse population, not just here with our student athletes, but Winthrop as a whole. I think Winthrop really started as diverse in a lot of ways – we were a women’s college at first. It’s expanding and growing in such great ways and in diverse ways too.
“What we do for the African American population, and how we will graduate our students and African American students at Winthrop are synonymous. We need to continue to support each other… It’s about a university and it’s a very special university” Ray said.
A mural created by Autumn Jackson, dedicated to the lives lost due to police brutality, was ceremoniously unveiled at the NAACP event. The mural depicts blue hands covering the mouths of two people of color.
“The blue hands across the mouth are to represent the police, who are silencing us and trying to erase us. The reason I have everyone on here morphing away is because they are trying to erase us” said Jackson.
Shortly after the mural was unveiled, a candlelight service was performed and many prominent names of lives lost to police brutality were read in memoriam. Speakers encouraged students of any race to stand with them in the face of injustice and encouraged everyone to vote.
Wounds from injustice against black Americans are raw. A diverse crowd from the Winthrop community came together to acknowledge the ongoing fight for equal justice and opportunity. Students are hopeful that their actions will speak truth to power and result in change.
Photo by Jamia Johnson
