Local college students call for peaceful protests, change

College students gathered around the area Tuesday one day after it was announced that a white Ferguson, Mo. police officer would face no charges in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager this summer.

College students need to lead by example, Veronne Clark, who attends Central State University said Tuesday.

“We have to be the change we want to see,” Clark said. “It begins with being educated and making the right decisions.”

Students gathered at CSU, Wright State University and the Beavercreek police department, which had an officer involved in the shooting death a man in Walmart on Aug. 5

At CSU students participated in a group prayer in front of the Performing Arts Center.

Wright State students held a moment of silence for the Michael Brown, 18, the Missouri teen, whose death at the hands of Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson, has prompted violent protests and heightened racial tension.

On Monday evening following the announcement that Wilson would not be charged, violence erupted in Ferguson. Buildings were burned and vandalized and at least 61 people were arrested, according to the Associated Press. The city had already faced months of protests following Brown’s Aug. 9 death.

Local students Tuesday said they want the violence in Ferguson to end because they believe it will only make matters worse.

“Every police officer is not out to kill everybody.” Denzel Peters, a CSU student, said. “I am studying criminal justice, and I want the community to be able to trust me.”

Students at WSU and CSU said they were upset about Monday night’s decision in Ferguson. They are also upset about the rioting and looting that has taken place, the students said.

Their goal is to work together to create ways to prevent violent interactions between young people and law enforcement.

“I don’t think the views of that court system or that police department should be over represented,” Peyton Jones, a WSU student, said. “I would really like to see people do more civil protest rather than rioting.”

Members of the Ohio Student Association gathered in front of the Beavercreek police department to hold a vigil for Brown, John Crawford III, 22, and others killed in officer involved shootings. The students carried crosses and held signs bearing the names of the deceased. Beavercreek Officer Sean Williams shot and killed Crawford as he carried a black air-powered BB gun at the Beavercreek Walmart on Aug. 5. Williams was not charged.

“I grew up in a like a white suburban town…I’ve always thought of police as protectors of our city,” said Michaela Scholl. “It’s eye-opening to hear other people talk about it in terms of, they never felt that way.”

Students from Wright State and Central State said they plan to reach out to nearby universities, to educate young adults on the proper way to approach police, with the goal of keeping their peers safe.

“You need to actually read and learn your rights,” CSU student Giovonni Braden-Dorsey, said. “Read your state and local laws.”

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