NOTAGAINSU

november 7 and 8, 2019

racial slurs against

black and asian people

were reported

on the fourth and

sixth floors

november 12, 2019

students gather

in an open forum to

express their concerns

and discuss action planS

to ensure accountability

THIS CAMPUS IS HELL.

It’s Saturday, and there are six more days until break and four more days until we hear what the Chancellor is planning to do in response to the written demands from #NotAgainSU. I’m incredibly proud of everyone who is working so hard on this protest. It’s gotten to the point where the occupied Barnes Center is no longer just filled with Black and brown faces. White allies are here in large numbers, pretty much guaranteeing now that the space will not be emptied out. I know how hard words by Nhari Djan illustrations by Nina Bridges

people are working behind the scenes.

I joined (and later ghosted) the PR group, which is handling all the press that’s banging down the door for access to any information on the movement while staying on top of all the graphics and keeping all communication in check. When I reflect on my sadness at this time, it has to do with the fact that I know I could be helpful to them, but something about the work makes me feel sick to my stomach. I feel frozen. I can’t really explain what it is. I wish I could do more.

Until I can figure out some sort of emotional management, I do what little I can: spread information, drive people to and from the center, donate supplies—whatever else might help me sleep at night. The point of this movement is not to feel bad. The point of this movement has nothing to do with my feelings. The point of this movement has everything to do with my feelings.

My friends and I make a run that night to Walmart to buy supplies for the protest. We come back to the center and drop our purchases in the large pile of donations. Everyone has been

november 13, 2019 students hold a sit-in at

the barnes center

with a list of demands

for the administration

to meet by

#notagainsu

as the official movement

to stand in solidarity

with all groups

that align with the movement

“the point of this movement has nothing to do with my feelings the point of this movement has everything to do with my feelings “ “ the point of this movement has nothing to do with my feelings. the point of this movement has everything to do with my feelings. “

so generous to the cause. I don’t even think food donations are being accepted anymore because there’s literally too much. The online fundraiser set up to support the protest has made more than $8,000 now. There’s a lot of love being poured into this, but there’s still so much hate.

At night, the Barnes Center feels different. There’s a happier, calmer mood since many people are taking a break from strategizing. We peacefully ignore the smell of a collection of food donations and the bodies that have stayed put in the center night after night. People are decorating posters and laughing, eating dinner, playing games, and preparing for another night of sleeping on the crowded floor. Suddenly, everyone’s attention is called for an announcement.

It’s urgent. DPS confirmed a group of 20 white men on campus attacked a Black woman. More details to come. Everyone assumes the worst. As updates come in, we learn that the woman is a student, and although she wasn’t physically attacked, the men were shouting at her, trying to humiliate her. They made fun of her clothes, and they called her “nigger.” (You probably thought no one did that anymore.)

chancellor’s house

chanting “sign or resign”

after he couldn’t

agree to protest

demands

“I FEEL FROZEN. I CAN’T REALLY IT IS. EXPLAIN I WISH WHAT I COULD DO MORE.” We continue to get updates on the situation, but there’s not much more information at the time. The biggest takeaway is that no one should be out alone. It’s too dangerous now. There’s a basketball game, and lots of attendees are drunk and unsupportive of the protests. They ignore protestors as they walk into the Dome to watch a game played by the only Black people on campus that they care about. We can’t risk provoking them.

The news makes the room incredibly tense. The entire atmosphere changes as we’re reminded again of why we are there in the first place. This campus is hell. A friend of mine gets out of work at 9 p.m., so I text her that I will drive over to her work and pick her up because it’s not safe. When the time comes, my two other friends and I leave the building together and make our way to the car. As we’re walking, one of them says with a broken voice, “Can you take me home?” She has her fur hood on her head, covering her expression, but her words are filled with tears. Hearing her cry makes my eyes water too. It’s become too much. We hold on to her and walk to the car. She keeps repeating that she wants to be there, but she just can’t. We understand. I’m sure there isn’t a single person who hasn’t felt that way this week.

Later that night, we come back to the center, minus one. It’s an open mic night where people are singing and reciting monologues and showing off their poetry and rap verses. One Black woman in a pajama onesie gets in front of the crowd and takes up the bullhorn mic. She sings a song that captures me. She wails and wails in the chorus, “Nobody cries for Black girls.” JM

signed 16 of the protestors’

demands and made changes

to the remaining three.

#notagainSU ended the

sit-in that night

currently.

jan 19 notagainsu held a general interest meeting. their instagram has over 9,000 followers.

jan 28 racist graffiti was reported in day hall this is the 23rd incident of racist, anti-semitic, or bias-related actions since nov. 7, 2019.

jan 29 syracuse university announced it will suspend any student who commits bias-related vandalism

PROTESTS AROUND THE WORLD

syracuse After days of racist, biasrelated incidents on campus, student protestors formed #NOTAGAINSU and occupied the Barnes Center for over two weeks

paris Hikes in fuel taxes sparked the Yellow Vest movement in the streets of Paris, which then grew into a larger outcry against what they saw as President Macron’s bias in favor of the elite

santiago In response to the raise of subway fare and more government privatization, people are taking to the streets in Chile to protest their government

buenos aires A bill on abortion rights sparked a feminist movement within the streets of Argentina

PROTESTS AROUND THE WORLD

london In the name of saving the planet, The Extinction Rebellion uses nonviolent civil disobedience to disrupt one of the greatest cities on earth

Khartoum Following a military coup d'état of President Omar al-Bashir, civilians protested in favor of a civilian-led transitional government, which was met with violence from the Transitional Miliary Council. A peace process between the groups was scheduled to start in September.

delhi After the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed last December, citizens have taken to the streets to protest the discriminatory law

hong kong The citizens of Hong Kong are protesting to maintain independence and a separate democracy