Hundreds of University of Wisconsin-Madison students, joined by a handful of faculty members, occupied a campus library Thursday to disrupt its studious atmosphere in protest of a graffiti-related arrest.
Denzel McDonald, also known as "King Shabazz," was arrested when police escorted him from class last week.
“King didn’t learn cuz of y’all; y’all ain’t gonna learn cuz of me!” protesters chanted as they filled the circulation area of College Library, spilling into an adjacent café.
The purpose of the protest was to interrupt the learning of other students, just as “King” was prevented from learning when police confronted him in a class, organizer Alix Shabazz said later.
Numbering as many as 600 at the start, the group rallied outside UW-Madison administration offices atop Bascom Hill, then marched down to the library at the corner of Park Street and Observatory Drive.
Led by members of Freedom, Inc., the protesters called out obscenity-studded slogans, stomped, danced and spoke for 45 minutes in a protest several notches more intense than other campus civil rights demonstrations in recent years. Three protesters jumped atop a low bookcase to stand in silent protest, one with a sign taped over her mouth.
Protesters demanded that criminal charges and disciplinary proceedings against McDonald be dropped and that he be allowed to finish school.
McDonald was charged April 14 with 11 counts of vandalism and one count of disorderly conduct in connection with what UW-Madison police estimated was $4,000 worth of damage and an alleged threat to a witness who attempted to stop his spray-painting.
A handful of faculty members came before the crowd in the library to show their solidarity with the students.
Bianca Baldridge, an associate professor of educational policy studies, told the crowd she was “appalled” at how students of color are treated on campus.
“They are constant victims of physical and emotional violence at the hands of UW police, other students, as well as faculty. This harm is inflicted further when the administration refuses to condemn racist actions. I urge the administration to take a real stand against racial violence, sexual violence and other forms of harm on our campus.
“This is not an easy place to be for you or for us,” Baldridge said, fighting back tears to murmurs of support from the crowd. “As a black woman faculty member, I hear and see your pain. You matter to us.”
Rachelle Winkle-Wagner, an associate professor in educational leadership and policy analysis, also expressed solidarity with students.
“I am here to condemn the racism and hostility that is sweeping our campus. I am here to take back our campus. We must say no to the hate, no to the racism. I say, ‘No. Not here. Not now. Not ever,’” Winkle-Wagner said.
She urged faculty and administrators to examine campus practices.
“Is the vandalism perpetrated on our underrepresented students and students of color treated the same way as the vandalism that points out the racism?” she asked.
“We must say no to the racially disparate treatment of students on this campus,” Winkle-Wagner said.
UW-Madison sophomore Tyriek Mack climbs the Abe Lincoln statue outside Bascom Hall during a protest of the arrest of an African-American student in April.
PHOTO BY SAIYNA BASHIRA series of bias incidents on campus this semester, including anti-Semitic images taped on a dorm room door, racial epithets during a confrontation with African-American students and catcalls during a Native American ceremony — became public this semester.
Some students and faculty have argued that discipline of students behind those actions was not sufficient. Dissatisfaction with university administrators’ response to the bias incidents helped fuel an outpouring of testimony about racism on campus using the #TheRealUW hashtag on Twitter over the past month.
Social media also spread a message of shock and dismay when UW-Madison police entered a black visual culture class last week to make contact with McDonald, who left the classroom with officers and was arrested outside the Humanities Building.
Discontent spread after UW-Madison Police Chief Susan Riseling apologized on Friday, admitted that officers violated department practices by entering the classroom and promised a review of the incident.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank and Dean of Students Lori Berquam released statements after the arrest sympathizing with frustration over racial incidents on campus, but critics said they have not adequately condemned racist actions nor taken adequate action to end disparate treatment of students of color and ethnic minorities.
Some 800 faculty, academic staff and graduate students signed a letter condemning the arrest and calling for effective action to end racism. And protesters Thursday sought to hold Blank and Berquam accountable, calling for them to be fired.
Later students chanted that the two “done us dirty.”
“Lori, do your time. Becky, do your time,” the crowd called out.
University officials repeated their statements of support for student frustration on racial matters through a spokesperson Thursday.
“We share the concerns of our students regarding the underlying issues that impact climate for students of color on our campus,” Meredith McGlone said. “These concerns are reflected in the list of demands provided today. We look forward to continuing a dialogue with the campus community about how best to make everyone feel welcome at UW–Madison.”
Student bystanders at the library had varying views about the disruption. One student who was there to copy a paper said he was glad he had not planned to stay and study.
“If I had work to do, I’d be very pissed off,” he said. “I don’t know why I’m being screamed at.”
“I wish I could study, but I get where they’re coming from,” said a freshman with Spanish class materials spread out around her. “Their voices will be heard after this,” she said as the shouts of protesters threatened to drown out her words to a reporter.
UW-Madison students enter College Library to protest the arrest of an African-American student Thursday.
PHOTO BY SAIYNA BASHIRStudents who joined in the march said they were eager to see progress on race issues.
Freshman Olivia Smith said she was marching in solidarity with McDonald and was angered at police coming in to a class to get him. “That should not happen again,” she said.
Smith said Thursday’s protest was more intense than last fall, when UW-Madison students mounted a rally in solidarity with students at the University of Missouri that quickly turned to the racial climate at home.
“This is more powerful, the message is more powerful. If nothing happens after this, I don’t know what to think,” she said.
Josh Levin, a senior, said he stumbled upon the protest and knew he had to join in. He said he is concerned about the racial climate on campus overall, but also supports McDonald.
“I stand by the art he made — it’s an important part of protest, sometimes you have to do something that’s not allowed," Levin said. "He made his voice heard and that’s what we are all doing here now.”
Levin said he knows not all students share his view. The backlash is evident in the #TheRealUW campaign, he said.
“There’s plenty of backlash that white males like myself don’t have to deal with," he said. "There’s some horrible things being said and happening at this university and that’s why I’m in line here.”
Protesters marched down Park Street, stopping traffic along University Avenue and Johnson Street when they stopped in those intersections to chant, as their number gradually diminished.
