Two High-Profile Deaths Spark Rally at Illinois Wesleyan
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: March 27, 2012
BLOOMINGTON - A few somber songs about 'change' set the tone Tuesday for a rally on the quad at Illinois Wesleyan University.
More than 200 people gathered at noon and stood in solidarity wearing mainly the same articles of clothing.
"Normally I would not be wearing this, but I'm wearing it today," said IWU student Chelsea Davitt.
Davitt was one of the girls wearing a hijab, the traditional head wear for Muslim women.
The boys, and some girls, wore hooded sweatshirts, which are also called hoodies.
It's what 17-year-old Trayvon Martin of Florida was wearing last month when he died. A neighborhood watch member. George Zimmerman, shot and killed him, claiming self-defense.
However, many people, including those at the rally, believe it's a hate crime.
IWU student Barbara Skrobacz said, "It's just ridiculous his killer is still out and about and isn't getting charged. How do you confuse a bag of Skittles with a weapon?"
Martin was walking home with Skittles from a convenience store at the time of his death.
The hijabs were a tribute to a Muslim American woman who was beaten to death last week in San Diego.
Her family has said a note was found on her body saying "Go back to your country."
"I think awareness definitely needs to be raised and the intolerance needs to stop," Davitt said.
IWU Professor Dr. Narendra Jaggi organized the rally on Facebook on Monday. He said it all came together within hours.
"The Trayvon thing had been building up inside me. I couldn't take it anymore. I put it on Facebook. Then we had more than 200 people attending in 28 hours. All the speakers were lined up. It struck a nerve." he said.
Jaggi said the rally was about more than making a statement with clothing or what people believe happened in each tragic case.
He said it was to spread the importance of racial tolerance, acceptance and equality.
"I just want these students to get engaged, and they are. I just want them to reflect upon this and they're doing it," he said.
And if you ask him, he'd say it's already catching on.
Davitt said, "Just be tolerant of everybody. Be understanding that they are different but they're just everyday humans like us."
More than 200 people gathered at noon and stood in solidarity wearing mainly the same articles of clothing.
"Normally I would not be wearing this, but I'm wearing it today," said IWU student Chelsea Davitt.
Davitt was one of the girls wearing a hijab, the traditional head wear for Muslim women.
The boys, and some girls, wore hooded sweatshirts, which are also called hoodies.
It's what 17-year-old Trayvon Martin of Florida was wearing last month when he died. A neighborhood watch member. George Zimmerman, shot and killed him, claiming self-defense.
However, many people, including those at the rally, believe it's a hate crime.
IWU student Barbara Skrobacz said, "It's just ridiculous his killer is still out and about and isn't getting charged. How do you confuse a bag of Skittles with a weapon?"
Martin was walking home with Skittles from a convenience store at the time of his death.
The hijabs were a tribute to a Muslim American woman who was beaten to death last week in San Diego.
Her family has said a note was found on her body saying "Go back to your country."
"I think awareness definitely needs to be raised and the intolerance needs to stop," Davitt said.
IWU Professor Dr. Narendra Jaggi organized the rally on Facebook on Monday. He said it all came together within hours.
"The Trayvon thing had been building up inside me. I couldn't take it anymore. I put it on Facebook. Then we had more than 200 people attending in 28 hours. All the speakers were lined up. It struck a nerve." he said.
Jaggi said the rally was about more than making a statement with clothing or what people believe happened in each tragic case.
He said it was to spread the importance of racial tolerance, acceptance and equality.
"I just want these students to get engaged, and they are. I just want them to reflect upon this and they're doing it," he said.
And if you ask him, he'd say it's already catching on.
Davitt said, "Just be tolerant of everybody. Be understanding that they are different but they're just everyday humans like us."
