Black Lives Matter

The “The world’s biggest little city” also known as Reno, Nevada is known to be predominantly a Caucasian city.

Reno, Nevada being that it is predominantly a Caucasian city therefore, leaving it to be a majority of the students at the University of Nevada Reno to be white. There are not too many pro-black movements and those that are then it seems to be as if they are quickly to be degraded. On Friday, February 6, 2016 the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada’s had a banner posted outside. The banner had “Black Lives Matter” printed in bold black letters. The church’s Reverend Neal Anderson spoke to News 4 about the ongoing incidents.

“We as a religious community are disappointed that people would stoop to vandalizing and stealing from us.” Said Reverend Anderson.

The sign has been stolen or vandalized eight times since it was first installed in August. The sign was painted over stating ‘white’ lives matter over the “Black Lives Matter,” after the first day of the sign being put out. The reverend estimated each sign costs about $60, but several members of the congregation have already offered to pay for those signs in support of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.

Two local African American freshman University of Nevada Reno students and members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Nakaila Jones and Shayla Simpson. Jones expressed that she was hurt and it really opened her eyes to see what type of society we live in.

“It was so disheartening to see how people can be so one-sided and be cruel to what means something dear to some people.” Stated Jones.

I asked Shayla Simpson her thoughts and opinions about the Black Lives Matter Movement supporters in Reno and how she feels the movement is affecting the community?

“I am a big supporter of the Black Lives Matter Movement, so anyone who supports the movement I back them up one hundred percent. I wish that there were more of a diversity of races in the movement especially here in Reno, honestly if it’s affecting the community I think its affecting it in a bad way. Reno’s population is majority white people and so when we, us African American’s, participate or hold an event and it is pertaining to the Black Lives Matter Movement, some of the white people here in Reno don’t really understand or feel we’re being ignorant.” Said Simpson.

The University of Nevada Reno has clubs/organizations on campus that play a huge part in supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement here in Reno. The clubs/organizations are Sisters On A Move (S.O.A.M), Ambition, Beauty, Leadership, Equality (ABLE), Black Student Organization (BSO). I spoke to members in each club/organization, S.O.A.M, ABLE, and BSO on their thoughts and opinions about the movement in Reno.

Genevieve White a freshman at the University of Nevada Reno, is in the club ABLE. White holds an important position with ABLE. She is the event coordinator meaning she plans any events that ABLE wants to host and put on.

“Moving from Las Vegas to Reno was a huge cultural shock for me!” White exclaimed.

The march was called “We Stand With Mizzou.” It collided with the Black Lives Matter Movement. We Stand With Mizzou March was supporting an African American, Jonathan Butler who attended the University of Missouri and faced racial acts from another student. Not much was done from the president of the school. So Butler decided to go on a hunger strike until the president stepped down. Schools across the nation heard about this horrible tragedy and stood with Butler. The University of Nevada Reno’s clubs, S.O.A.M, ABLE, and BSO held a march for Mizzou (University of Missouri) back in November in 2015. The three clubs marched across the campus as they all collectively stood together to unite and stand with Mizzou.

I asked three white students at Reno’s University, Bryce Nicholson, Ashlyn Gual, and Teresa Travis what their stand was with the We Stand With Mizzou March that the University’s club’s held back in fall semester of 2015 and how they feel that the Black Lives Matter movement affects the community as a whole?

“I felt that it was a negative thing that happened here on campus. Why would you want to bring a situation that happened at a school in a whole different state and bring it here? Doesn’t make sense to me. There are a lot of incidents with white people, but you don’t see us, meaning the white people going around marching interrupting classes and students learning environment.” Said Nicolson.

“It was pointless if you ask me. This whole Black Lives Matter is actually the black people being racist themselves. How about “all lives matter?” The situation happened in a different state, but yet students here in Reno are focusing on that and bringing the tension here. I honestly feel that we do not need the “drama” if that’s what you want to call it.” Said Travis.

“I think it is a beautiful thing! I actually planned on participating in the march, but sadly I had class. I support what the cause of the march one hundred percent. What happened in Missouri was wrong in every way so I’m glad that the black student population is reaching out and supporting Johnathan Butler in every way the students can. Yes “all lives matter,” but I feel that the African Americans are focusing on the black ones. You go to a breast cancer awareness walk, right? No one gives any one grief about that, it being just a “breast cancer” awareness walk even though all types of cancers matter, you’re just focusing on that specific one” Stated Gual.

I spoke to a member of the National Association Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) Carllie Robinson, on how she feels the movement affects the community being that you live in a predominantly white community.

“Because we live in Reno and there isn’t much people of color who live here it is hard for us, African American’s let our voices be heard. They do not understand the struggles that we have faced for many many years. It was a tough battle to be where we are now. So when do these marches that the University has done, or a drive for whatever cause that pertains to Black Lives Matter the Reno community doesn’t really support us. People ask me what I do in my spare time and I tell them I am a member of the NAACP and they either give me a dirty walk and walk away or they ask “what is that?”