OAKWOOD - Gainesville State College students got an answer to the question, 'Does racism still exist' Wednesday during a panel discussion honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
GSC Students who traveled to Jena, Louisiana last summer to march in support of six black teens known as the 'Jena Six' recalled their experiences.
One of them was Corey Leonard.
"It's hard for our generation to understand that real racism is not that far behind us," Leonard said. "I think going there made me have a better understanding of the town and the people who live there."
The arrest of the teens grew out of racial tension in the Louisiana town last year; the GSC students joined 20,000 others in a march for social justice.
Municipal Court Judge Hammond Law served as a community panelist.
He suggested the incident and resulting mass protest should lead to a closer examination by all public officials involved to guide them toward future equal treatment for everyone.
Program moderator Dr. Theresa 'Dove' Waters said she was glad to see the students support each other to identify and solve racial differences which she said the Jena incident clearly showed still exist.
"I'm excited that students are rising up again to carry out the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King," Waters said.
Thursday
October 17th, 2024
7:31AM
