Nkechi Ikem
The Associated Students Student Commission on Racial Equality (SCORE) held an “I Fight for Racial Justice” photo campaign on Wednesday afternoon to raise awareness and gather support for the group’s upcoming programs this year.
The campaign was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Office of Student Life’s organization fair in Storke Plaza. Participants took pictures next to a whiteboard, upon which they wrote their reasons for supporting racial justice. The written phrases included statements such as “because my identity matters” and “because it’s the right thing.”
Faviola Ruiz-Zamudio, Co-Education Chair of SCORE, told The Bottom Line that the campaign was inspired by similar actions taken by students on other campuses. On the University of Chicago’s campus, student groups dedicated a whole week to holding workshops concerning racial justice.
Ruiz-Zamudio, a third year linguistics major, said she wants the university administration and the greater community to know where students stand on the issue.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” Ruiz-Zamudio said. “I can’t see myself not standing for racial justice.”
Students that participated in the campaign shared similar sentiments. First year undeclared student Emily Elrod said she participated because she sees a great deal of inequality in the United States.
Elrod shared that she saw a lot of prejudice in her home state of South Carolina, which only made her more passionate about issues of equity. She cited “a lack of empathy” as the reason behind a so-called lack in the attention given to issues like police brutality against minority communities.
Students who participated in the campaign received free t-shirts and pens. On Saturday, SCORE posted photos taken during the shoot on its Facebook page.
UPDATE:
Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m.: A previous version of the story referred to A.S. SCORE as the “Student Commission on Racial Justice.” SCORE stands for “Student Commission on Racial Equality.”