Tent City in New York City
Yesterday we had a tent city in New York City’s famed Central Park where about 100 people from all five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties, and New Jersey showed up. We began off the rally with David Rivera explaining the reason for the rally and with Abby Strauss explaining the two primary reasons for the protest: 1. To reopen the Presidential Search Process and have Dr. Fernandes resign, and 2. To have no reprisals for any FSSA involved with the protest. Abby also explained why the search process was flawed to clarify for a lot of people who had questions about the protest. David went on the talk about questioning Dr. Fernandes’ ability to lead Gallaudet with the current crisis going on. Joshua Finkle stepped in to explain the oppression we are all feeling that began with the Milan Conference, and how I. King Jordan may have opened a door with DPN, and we have many more doors to be opened in the Deaf community. By having Fernandes stay on as President, the second door would remain closed since we are continuing to experience oppression, and this has to stop. David added we not only do we have the FSSA but we have one more A to add to FSSAA which stands for ALLIES. The crowd cheered at this and several times throughout our speeches.
Look at all of the allies we are gathering from local universities in the DC area to supporters who showed up at our rally yesterday who are friends/partners/co workers/children of people they know who attended Gallaudet to NTID/RIT students and support us. The crowd cheered when David made this statement. A lot of people vowed to come to Gallaudet this weekend for Homecoming, to show their support for the protest.
The crowd cheered, and there were a few more speeches, then we moved to a bigger park because more people were arriving, where there were more comments by some other alumni. David and Josh both led the rally and did a terrific job! A lot of people brought posters and held them up for the cameras to see. David concluded the rally by having us form a huge human chain around the lawn. It was really inspiring to see all of these people together, the unity for Gallaudet, all of us in this together, and to see all of us offering support to Gallaudet.
Some voiced their displeasure at how Fernandes has been playing with the media, and making it seem like the protest is not about her, as she stated in yesterday’s Washington Post, but about students’ fear for change.
David collected donations for the students and earned a total of $350, which has already been sent to Gallaudet University FSSA Coalition.
Unity for Gallaudet!
-Abigail Strauss, '97 & G'99
Look at all of the allies we are gathering from local universities in the DC area to supporters who showed up at our rally yesterday who are friends/partners/co workers/children of people they know who attended Gallaudet to NTID/RIT students and support us. The crowd cheered when David made this statement. A lot of people vowed to come to Gallaudet this weekend for Homecoming, to show their support for the protest.
The crowd cheered, and there were a few more speeches, then we moved to a bigger park because more people were arriving, where there were more comments by some other alumni. David and Josh both led the rally and did a terrific job! A lot of people brought posters and held them up for the cameras to see. David concluded the rally by having us form a huge human chain around the lawn. It was really inspiring to see all of these people together, the unity for Gallaudet, all of us in this together, and to see all of us offering support to Gallaudet.
Some voiced their displeasure at how Fernandes has been playing with the media, and making it seem like the protest is not about her, as she stated in yesterday’s Washington Post, but about students’ fear for change.
David collected donations for the students and earned a total of $350, which has already been sent to Gallaudet University FSSA Coalition.
Unity for Gallaudet!
-Abigail Strauss, '97 & G'99
posted by Aidan Mack @ 9:22 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home