Gallery: Students march in protest of Confederate statue on campus

Posted on Feb 22 2019 - 6:00am by Christian Johnson

“Black Lives Matter.” “Take it Down.” “A Change Gonna Come.”

These phrases plastered on signs and other written calls to action were the only words present during a silent Black History Month March today, which marks first public demonstration ahead of this weekend’s on-campus rally by two pro-Confederate groups.

Demonstrators met in the entrance of Lamar Hall, marched through the rain to the edge of the Circle and then gathered around the Confederate statue at the heart of the Ole Miss campus on Wednesday. The crowd of protesters, observers and university police grew to more than 100 people by the time the protest reached the Circle.

Check out our full coverage of the weekend protests here.

 

Photo by Christian Johnson

Photo by Christian Johnson

 

 

Photo by Christian Johnson

 

 

Photo by Christian Johnson

Jarrius Adams, president of the UM Gospel Choir, leads the Black History Month March before giving a speech in front of the Confederate monument in the Circle yesterday. Adams’s call for the removal of the statue come just two days before a march led by two pro-Confederate groups. Photo by Christian Johnson

 

 

Photo by Christian Johnson

President of the Black Student Union Jarvis Benson speaks to marchers on the importance of having their voices heard despite the bad weather during the Black History Month March yesterday. Photo by Christian Johnson