The Vermont Cynic documents historic UVM protests

Black Student Union President Harmony Edosomwan, a sophomore sits in the middle of Main Street in Burlington during this week’s protest. Edosomwan and others have been calling for the removal of top University of Vermont officials for what she calls failure to act against racism on campus.
Photo by Oliver Pomazi, The Vermont Cynic

When a group of University of Vermont students protested this week against the administration for what the students called a failure to act against racist acts and institutional practices—a week in which a UVM staff member also staged a public hunger strike over the same issues—The Vermont Cynic staff launched a multimedia effort on VtCynic.com to capture the moment.

This collegiate journalism rivaled some of the best that The Vermont Cynic has ever produced. This page contains just a few of the moments captured by the staff of Cynic Editor-in-Chief Erika Lewy and Managing Editor Greta Bjornson.

NoNames4Justice, an UVM social justice group, staged rallies in Waterman, the main UVM administration building, more than once during the week. The first of the rallies occurred on Feb. 20 in support of John Mejia, a UVM staff member who staged a hunger strike to protest racial injustice. Photo by Alek Fleury, photo editor of The Vermont Cynic

UVM Vice Provost Annie Stevens, right, listens to student protesters, who have called for her to resign.

Photo by Oliver Pomazi, The Vermont Cynic

Gary Derr, UVM vice president for executive operations, speaks to Black Student Union President Harmony Edosomwan during a sit-in outside the presidential wing. Behind him is UVM President Tom Sullivan. Photo by Oliver Pomazi, The Vermont Cynic

Photo by Oliver Pomazi, The Vermont Cynic