The CSA will make a further statement once the protest’s demands have been updated:
“The Central Student Association (CSA, Local 54 CFS), stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at Guelph.
The University of Guelph senior administration has failed to respond to black student voices and demands over the years. Furthermore, exponentially increasing tuition fees and budget cuts, among other changes that have increased the inaccessibility of education at the University of Guelph, have disproportionately affected black workers and students on campus.
Leading up to the rally, students used the #BlackOnCampus hashtag to speak out against horrible experiences of anti-black racism on campus and the lack of action taken by the University of Guelph senior administration to address these issues. We were alarmed to learn that in response to such a powerful movement of solidarity, some students responded with a refusal to understand, shared misinformation, and/or worst of all, made blatant racist comments aimed at black students. The CSA condemns these actions, and believes all of these problematic responses highlight the importance of this rally and actions like this. There are voices on our campus that are being ignored; when they provide their input, we all need to listen.”