"I'm going to be here for the next four years I don't want this to be my home."Ĭollege first year Abigail Florestal, who also attended the protest on Tuesday, echoed concerns about "fraternity culture" on campus and its effect on students of color, and she said that fraternity culture on campus is prominent enough to make people of color and other minority groups feel uncomfortable. The student also expressed concern that fraternity culture creates an unsafe environment for students of color, and that she shouldn't be afraid to walk past a fraternity house. “One of the reasons we’re out here is because no one has said ‘This is a hate crime,’ or even ‘Allegedly, this is a hate crime,’” they said.Ī College first year, who asked to remain anonymous, said she attended the protest on Tuesday because she believes students should never condone community violence. One of the students who attended the Wednesday protest, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said the protest’s most ardent demand is for the University to make a statement about the assault and to reassure the student body that it would not tolerate a hate crime of any kind on campus. Students hold signs outside Castle on Sept.
Martinez emphasized the importance of centering the victim's needs and making sure their demands are met. Around 50 students attended the protest on the fourth and final day.Ĭollege junior Serena Martinez, who participated in organizing the protest, said on Tuesday that the protest was the result of collaboration by multiple students and student groups. On the third day of the protest, around 25 students continued to hold signs that criticized frat culture and chant for Penn to hold Castle accountable for the alleged assault. Organizers provided food and drinks for protestors, and at various points throughout the three hour period, students chanted “Hold frats accountable” and “Castle must go” as students, faculty, and others walked past. to 3 p.m., holding up signs that read slogans decrying the assault and frat culture as several Penn Open Expression staff watched on. On the second day of the protest, around 40 students once again gathered in front of Castle on Locust Walk from 1 p.m.
9 that the Office of Student Conduct is currently investigating, and that the Division of Public Safety is "very much aware" of the incident. Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of Penn Police Maureen Rush told the DP on Sept. The victim is not affiliated with Psi Upsilon. So I will continue for two years and five months more.The victim’s brother and a witness suspected that race played a role in the assault, which resulted in the victim being hospitalized. I already spent the first seven months of my sit-in. If they change the verdict and if they extend my license, I will stop my sit-in.īut if they don’t, I will continue my sit-in for three years. We need support from civil society, NGOs and especially from the lawyers’ community in other countries.
It is useful for the international community to care for us. It is our problem, and it depends on our efforts. We expect the international community to pay attention to the discussion with the Iranian government and not ignore the human rights debate in Iran. It is very important for us to have the right to protest. There are still executions political prisoners have been in jail for a long time men and women are under house arrest. What can the international community do, especially if the existing sanctions are lifted with a nuclear deal?įirst of all, we do not want to sacrifice the debates on human rights and let them be affected by the nuclear talks. We insist on our goals, on the basis of non-violence and civil rights. Maybe they can be successful over a short period of time. How effective are the official actions in silencing dissent among the lawyers? It is dangerous for lawyers to defend their clients independently and according to the law.įurthermore, the revolutionary court (established after the 1979 Islamic revolution) should be excluded from the justice system. One lawyer in front of the prison was recently arrested only because he was doing his job. How much hardship do you see among lawyers like you? So I think that I had some results from my sit-in.
I think that the Bar association will not issue a verdict against my colleagues, and I expect them to overturn the verdict against me. And now we are more relaxed than previously. But step-by-step, after a while, they stopped interfering. In the first days of my sit-in, police forces captured us, I and my friends who held the sit-in. What’s the impact of your protest so far?