BSU, DAAP clash during MLK rally

By Jacquelyn Nixon

Daily Staff Reporter

As students took to the streets yesterday to advocate affirmative action, there were clear divisions among the 200 participants in how the message supporting affirmative action should be presented.

Shortly after students marched from the corner of South University and South Forest avenues to the Diag, where the rally began, the crowd parted as members of the Black Student Union and the Black Greek Association entered. They held green signs stating affirmative action was their issue and not an issue for the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action and Integration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary.

BSU members joined BAMN and the other organizations on the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. BAMN member Ebonie Byndon said although BAMN has encountered problems with BSU members in the past, BSU members have never before charged into a BAMN event. BSU members said they feel BAMN is an outside force which does not truly reflect the concerns of the minority students of the University.

Monique Luse, an LSA sophomore on the BSU executive board, said BSU respects that BAMN fights for affirmative action, but they don't agree with their tactics. "The organization is not run by University students. BSU, on the other hand, is led by the students. BAMN does not have that same element," Luse said. Throughout the rally, sparks began to fly between BAMN and BSU members in the crowd. "We would work hand in hand with this organization, but they won't let us," said BSU historian D'Yal Mcallister.

Donna Stern, a paralegal for BAMN, said the BSU and BAMN have different ideas about the type of action to take for progress in the area of affirmative action. "They don't want mass militant action. It takes people getting on the streets to win. (BSU is) against mass action which is how civil rights was won in the first place," Stern said.

Following the rally a small scuffle broke out between BAMN member and LSA sophomore Agnes Aleobua and Mcallister. Members of their respective organizations quickly broke it up.

BAMN chose MLK Day to demand equality and integration in education on the streets. "Affirmative action is our right," marchers chanted. The rally also occurred one day before the University goes to trial to defend its Law School admissions policy.

One student protested what the activists rallied for. LSA freshman Adam Dancy held up a sign which read "King would hate affirmative action."

"MLK dreamed of a world where children would be judged on the content of their character, not their race," Dancy said. "King would not like this."

He had earlier held up another sign which read "affirmative action is racist" that had been torn apart by marchers.

Dancy and his signs were met with a barrage of snowballs and as the crowd neared the Diag, one marcher mumbled, "you're lucky it's just snowballs."

The march and rally in memorium of King were sponsored by Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary, Members of the Social Welfare Action Alliance, Minority Affairs Commission and Native American Student Association, as well as students from Mackenzie High School and Cass Tech High School also participated in the march and rally.

Deseree Mattoks, a Cass Technical High School senior, attended yesterday's rally and said MLK Day is a reminder of the fight for civil rights.

"We are continuing the fight, which is something he started," Mattoks said.

Rackham student Jessica Curtin, organizer of the march, said just as King took action for civil rights, BAMN is also taking action to make change. "We're continuing the struggle of the civil rights movement through affirmative action and integration," Curtin said.

SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily

LSA sophomore Agnes Aleobua speaks on the steps of of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library yesterday afternoon during a rally in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. Aleobua will be testifying on the benefits of diversity in the trial against the University's Law School, which begins today.