ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Faculty and staff at the University of Michigan rallied in the center of campus Tuesday to show support for the school’s black students after racist posters were found in at least one building.
The rally, organized by Provost Martha Pollack, lasted about 15 minutes.
“Hatred has no place on this campus and we will not stand for hatred,” Pollack told the several hundred people at the rally, including school President Mark Schlissel.
The posters were found last week and included one that argued white women should not date black men. The Detroit Free Press reported that the posters had an “alt-right” logo. Some white supremacists use the term “alt-right” in expressing their ideologies.
Schlissel has said authorities are trying to find the source of the posters.
Black students at the University of Michigan have complained about how they are treated by some white students and about the relatively low number of African-Americans enrolled.
“We are visibly standing for the African-American students who are feeling isolated,” nursing faculty emerita Patricia Coleman-Burns said Tuesday. “We, the faculty at U-M, stand strong for your right to exist on this campus. This is one of our core values. We know what we stand for.”
Twenty-year-old student Zena Shunner told The Detroit News that she hopes the rally unites the campus.
“It’s cool to see the faculty came out in support of the students,” Shunner said. “I feel better knowing they are trying to see what is really going on around campus.”
School officials are expected to announce a diversity plan for the university on Thursday.
A few miles away, another Michigan school also has had to deal with issues involving race. Last month, racist graffiti was found on Eastern Michigan University’s campus in Ypsilanti. The graffiti, which included the letters “KKK” and a racial epithet, prompted protests by some black students.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.