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Fairfield U. Students Stage 'Die-In' To Protest Deaths Of Black Men

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Joe Harding is a member of the Fairfield University Class of 2018, the FUSA Senate and the Regis Residential Community Council. He is also outraged at the deaths of three young black men at the hands of police officers. 

Joe Harding, center with red hat, organized Wednesday's die-in at Fairfield University.

Joe Harding, center with red hat, organized Wednesday's die-in at Fairfield University.

Photo Credit: Contributed

So Harding, who is also black, decided to do something about it. He spent about a week organizing a die-in protest held Wednesday night that attracted nearly 100 Fairfield University students, faculty and administrators as well as members of the community.

“I met with other students, faculty and administrators over the last few days, figuring out logistics and what our real purpose was,” Harding said.  

At the die-in, the protesters gathered at Nyselius-Dimenna Library in the heart of the campus and laid on the ground for 17 minutes in silence. The 17 minutes was symbolic:

  • 11 minutes for the 11 times Eric Garner said he couldn’t breathe when put in a chokehold by a New York City police officer;
  • four minute for the hours Michael Brown lay on the ground after being shot by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer; and
  • two for the two seconds it took Cleveland police to shoot and kill 12-year-old Tamir Rice.

Harding said, “We met in in Canisius Hall to debrief the experience. The overall sentiment in the room was positive, and there was a sense of real pride in what we did. For me, this was a very powerful and moving experience.”

The protesters' commitment to this issue won't end with the die-in, Harding said.

“Moving forward, we're going to work in subcommittees to draw up 'asks' to be implemented into the culture at Fairfield University,” he said. “Specifically, we want this university to be a safe space for people of color where we don't feel like we're invisible or that our lives are less valuable than anyone else's. We want to keep the dialogue going.

"We'll continue to push, and push, and push until the culture here at Fairfield University whole-heartedly embodies and practices its Jesuit values regarding social justice and equality.” 

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