By Rabinna Taloy and Gevon Rubi
EBC Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO, California (Eagle News) — An open discussion between a group protesting The State Hornet’s newspaper coverage of the Stephon Clark case and supporters of the Black Livers Matter movement quickly became heated on the grounds of the California State University, Sacramento campus Friday afternoon, March 7th, 2019.
Students and faculty of Sacramento State gathered around the main campus’ quad area adjacent to the University Library to witness the debate.
According to Sacramento State students who saw the event, Trump supporters wearing red Make America Great Again hats started the open discussion to voice out their opinions regarding the previous day’s front page news of The State Hornet, the University’s newspaper.
On March 6th, 2019, the State Hornet distributed its newspaper with front page news about the Clark case and the district attorney’s decision not to criminally charge the police officers who fatally shot Clark. Make America Great Again supporters responded to the article, claiming the information was fake news and that it encouraged violence against law enforcement officers.
Students supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement quickly responded. This led to the open discussion which attracted a crowd of roughly fifty students and faculty.
The discussion soon became heated, as topics regarding issues of race, immigration and gun control were brought up. Within a half-hour, students began to raise “Black Lives Matter” posters. Yelling from the debaters and interjections from the crowd intensified.
Sacramento and campus police were on standby for crowd control. According to a State Hornet correspondent, in the next couple of days, the University will host a formal debate will be hosted.
(Eagle News Service)
