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The GW Hatchet

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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D.C. college students protest Ferguson decision at White House

A peaceful protestor stands in front of the White House, while other protestors chanted and sang. Samuel Klein | Senior Photo Editor
A protester stands in front of the White House, while others chanted and sang. Samuel Klein | Senior Photo Editor

Students from GW and Georgetown, American and Howard universities gathered outside the White House on Monday night to protest a St. Louis County grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in August.

The student protesters led chants, sang hymns and carried signs protesting the decision as they marched from U Street to the White House. About 200 flocked to the demonstrations outside the White House and shouted chants like “Hands up, don’t shoot” while some held up signs that read “stop racist police terror” and “Justice for Mike Brown.”

Demonstrators then held a moment of silence that lasted four and a half minutes to honor Brown, whose body was not moved from the street for four and a half hours after he was shot and killed.

GW sophomore Frank Fritz said he came to the protest to “stand with the people of Ferguson.”

“GW has always stressed that we take what we learn and put it into practice,” he said. “It’s up to students to finally stand up against racism and fear that captures this society that allows black youths to be gunned down.”

Protesters then sang hymns and shouted chants for about 30 minutes before at least 100 people lay down on the ground in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue, chanting “Black lives matter.”

Students from American, Howard, Georgetown and George Washington Universities lay on the ground in front of the White House in protest of a grand jury decision not to press charges against officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown. Samuel Klein | Senior Photo Editor
Students from GW and American, Howard and Georgetown universities lay on the ground in front of the White House in protest of a grand jury decision not to press charges against officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown. Samuel Klein | Senior Photo Editor

By midnight, most of the protesters had left the White House, with many headed to the Capitol building. Some stayed to continue singing hymns.

Another GW student, junior Nicole Martin, said she came to the White House to experience firsthand the protests she had seen on the news.

“This is one of those moments to see it all right before our eyes,” she said.

Students from Howard, American and Georgetown Universities poured in front of the White House in protest of a grand jury decision to not bring charges against police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. this past August. Samuel Klein | Senior Photo Editor
Students and D.C. residents poured in front of the White House to protest the grand jury decision. Samuel Klein | Senior Photo Editor

Brandon Lee contributed reporting.

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