Students at Illinois State University took a march on the quad after recent events at Cornell University were brought to attention.
The march was used to let students voices be heard and to demand change after the Cornell 7.
Student Asha Wallace shares why people have joined the protest, “Yeah, it’s a tragedy, and it shouldn’t be happening. And the fact that it happened at an institution where people were promised that they would be safe is scary. Uh, because we’re here, and we’re promised that we’re going to be safe.”
ISU’s chapter of The Young Democratic Socialists of America were the organizers of the protest.
The group only had 24 hours to prepare and initiate the march starting outside of Schoeder Plaza and ending outside Hovey Hall.
Member Sam Byrd shares the results of the march, “We’ve got a great turnout. I’m really happy about it.”
“In the light of the Cornell 7 and everything that’s happened with that. We wanted to put on a demonstration that shows that we’re not okay with the institutional processes that perpetrate and protect rapists.”
Protesters also demanded more protection and resources are made available for survivors of sexual assault and to prosecute rapists.
Organizers encourage students to join their annual Take Back The Night March on Thursday, October 15.