“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.