In March 2015, the Black Student Union at UC Berkeley held a rally to protest the decision not to prosecute the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. It was one of many protests at the university and led to the BSU presenting a series of demands to the administration that […]
Blake Simons
School Board considers name change at LeConte
Le Conte Elementary School could one day have a new name. Photo: Nancy Rubin Berkeley school officials are considering changing the name of Le Conte Elementary after community members raised concerns about its namesake, Joseph Le Conte, a deeply respected UC Berkeley faculty member and a passionate conservationist who helped found the Sierra Club. Le Conte was […]
Black Cal students repaint The Big C to reflect African flag
The students from Black Student Union who painted Cal’s “C” the colors of the Pan African flag. Back row: Isis Dillard, Eniola Abioye, Blake Simons.Front row: Alana Banks, Gabrielle Shuman, Lauren Butler. Photo: Mara Van Ells By Mara Van Ells Six UC Berkeley students woke up before dawn to climb into the Berkeley Hills to paint […]
For black students at UC Berkeley, protests are about Ferguson — and their own lives
On Dec 4, 2014, the Black Student Union of UC Berkeley held the first of three protests. Students occupied The Golden Bear Cafe for 4.5 hours, the amount of time Michael Brown’s body lay in the street in Ferguson, Mo. Photo: Genesis On Dec 4, 2014, the Black Student Union of UC Berkeley held the […]
Protesters stage ‘Black Brunch’ on Berkeley’s Fourth Street
A Black Brunch protester makes a black power salute at Tacubaya restaurant on Fourth Street on Sat. Jan. 3, 2014. Photo: Blake Simons More than two dozen African-American students, many from UC Berkeley, tried to disrupt “business as usual” on Saturday by staging a protest in Berkeley’s upscale Fourth Street shopping district. The students, as well […]
Out of Darkness walk aims to end silence around suicide
People at the Out of the Darkness Walk pause and reflect during a walk to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention. Photo: Vivian Liu People at the Out of the Darkness Walk pause and reflect during a walk to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention. Photo: Vivian Liu By Katherine Griffin Nine years ago this […]