Students Show Solidarity During Black History Month

Aiken, SC (02/07/2019) — As part of Black History Month, students at the University of South Carolina Aiken hosted Solidarity Day, encouraging their fellow Pacers to wear black and use #BecauseOfThemUSCACan on social media platforms to raise awareness.

"This year, we asked the campus to wear either black clothing, attire that represents historically black colleges or universities, or clothing purchased from a black-owned business," said Nikia Franklin, one of the student organizers of Solidarity Day.

"We chose these options because black is generally interrupted as a sign of morning; HBCU's have been well documented as spaces that take action against racial equality, actively involved in the civil rights movement, and produced monumental figures in the black community; and by supporting African American business, it provides economic empowerment to businesses that are an asset to the community."

This marked the second Solidarity Day on the USC Aiken campus.

"The Office of Diversity Initiatives hosted Solidarity Day as a show of unity and mourning for those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of racial equality, police brutality, and to display support for the fight against prejudice," said Q'Ladrin Qourters, another student organizer.

As part of the event, USC Aiken Pacers held a vigil for those killed in police brutality-related incidents.

"We wanted to provide the campus with different options to show their support for the cause," Franklin said.

"I was happy to see the numerous participants and eagerly looking forward to seeing more people participate in the future."

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