College Students Hold Worldwide #HandsUp Walk-Out For Michael Brown
While many teens were starting their first day of school Monday (August 25), college-bound Michael Brown of Ferguson, Missouri, was being laid to rest. On August 9, the unarmed 18-year-old was shot and killed by a police officer two days before he was supposed to start school at Vatterott College.
College students around the world have spread the hashtag #HandsUpWalkOut, welcoming others to join in on planned peaceful protests at different locations on Monday (August 25) as well as the rest of the week. Hands Up United is hosting the demonstrations, organizing the events on their website and providing ways to help out in Ferguson, where protests haven't stopped since the night Brown was shot.
"Hands Up" echoes the chant of police-opposing protestors, who've been using "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" as their battle cry. Witnesses to the shooting say Brown had his hands up after he was shot once, but the policeman, now identified as Darren Wilson, kept shooting until Brown went down.
Today, while Brown's family attended his funeral, people at schools such as St. Louis' Washington University and Syracuse University gathered with their hands over their heads to emphasize the innocence of Brown. Other rallies are planned for the rest of the week. Check events.handsupunited.org for an event near you.
Take the conversation offline. Talk with your friends about their feelings about what's happening in Ferguson, and the shooting of Mike Brown. And use this opportunity to get educated about bias when you head over to Look Different.
