MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University says it doesn’t have all the answers but it’s willing to continue discussions with the Black Lives Matter movement to work on things that must change.
WVU issued the statement Monday after a Saturday protest match where participants delivered a list of demands to WVU President Gordon Gee.
The group marched from Lane Park in Morgantown to WVU Police headquarters.
“The community really does care about our black brothers and sisters,” organizer Samantha Norris said during an initial protest on June 2 in Morgantown. ”Skin color does not determine worth here, what determines your worth is the quality of human you are, if you’re a good human who cares about people, who works hard then you’re worthy. We care about justice.”
The following list of demands are part of a petition online that has been signed by more than 80 people:
1. Prohibit all confederate flags and symbols in all public spaces at the university
2. Disarm the University Police force — no more firearms
3. Require annual bias training for all officers on the force, as well as a biannual town hall meeting with students
4. Revert a significant portion of the university police budget to mental and social work for students, particularly the Carruth Center and the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
5. Foster a relationship between UPD and MPD to improve community relations and in case the need for armed officers arises.
WVU’s statement pledged more work on the issues.
“We recognize the University – indeed all of society – has not progressed as much as is needed. This University is deeply committed to listening, learning and doing better,” the statement said. “Saturday will not be the last time we come together to address these issues as we all seek to move forward.”
Norris and other protesters are calling for police reform.
“This is a protest for Black Lives Matter, for police reform to end police brutality and to show the community really does rally around causes like this,” she said.
Monday’s statement from WVU said Black students are safe on campus and “are a vital part of our community. But we also recognize these are only words, and we will work together to turn these words into action.”
Norris said the protests are important, but the energy must last until the November election.
“You have to vote, you have to make it known,” she said. ”Because all of this won’t mean anything if we don’t go to the polls and vote too, especially young people. Young people have a history of not voting and we really need that to change.”
WVU statement
We are grateful to those members of our community who on Saturday expressed their conviction that West Virginia University has fallen short of their expectations when it comes to supporting the Black Lives Matter and similar movements that fight for justice and equality for all.
We recognize the University – indeed all of society – has not progressed as much as is needed. This University is deeply committed to listening, learning and doing better.
Saturday will not be the last time we come together to address these issues as we all seek to move forward.
We also want to assure our Black students they are safe on our campus and are a vital part of our community. But we also recognize these are only words, and we will work together to turn these words into action.
We want to listen. We do not have all the answers. But we are willing to stand together and get to work on those things that must change