Timeline of Events

Natl. events timeline:

  • 1967: (May 15) Black Panther Party releases “ten point program” detailing the party’s demands for change, including calling for an end of police brutality, racial profiling, and the unjust criminal justice system.
  • 1968: (Sept.) “club-toting police” beat and arrest protesters in Chicago
  • 1970: (May 4th) Kent State Massacre, wherein the Ohio National Guard shoots unarmed college students killing 4 at Kent State University who were protesting the Vietnam War; (May 15) Jackson State Killings, wherein 2 black students were killed by the police and 12 were injured
  • 1992: Los Angeles Riots following the not guilty verdict in the case of brutal beatings by LAPD officers against Rodney King
  • 1999: (Feb 4) Amadou Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea, is shot by 4 plainclothes officers in NY 41 times bc they believed he was a rapist from an earlier case (he was not). They were charged but then acquitted.
  • 2014: (Aug. 9) Michael Brown (age 18) is shot and killed by police despite being unarmed; officer is never charged

 

WWU Responses:

  • 1970: (May 5) 2000 students attend rally at red square to protest Kent State shooting/war in Vietnam, call for 3 day leave of classes in order to hold conversations around the war/shooting, send a letter of condolences to Kent State
  • 1970: (May 19): WWU flags flown at half mast after Jackson State shooting, Black Student Union calls for classes to be cancelled but Pres. Flora denies request.
  • 1980: Board of Trustees unanimously votes to reject bid for campus police to be allowed weapons while on duty (WWU and Evergreen are the only two 4 year universities in WA to have police without guns at this time)
  • 1992: 700 students hold rally in red square to protest verdict in King case, protest police brutality and racism, then ~200 march downtown (May 1); (May 6) “No Justice, No Peace” forum to discuss how society must change, interact with local NAACP chapter, police, rainbow coalition, etc.; Prof. Larry Estrada and student/leader of Black Student Network Chad Goller say local police harass POC in Whatcom county and need more sensitivity training
  • 2015: (Aug. 14): candlelight vigil, speeches, songs, chance to heal after Michael Brown shooting
  • 2016: (Oct 1) “Say Her Name: No More Silence” march to heighten awareness of violence, esp police violence against WOC/give WOC in Bellingham a place to speak out against injustice