Dear John,
By now, you may have seen news of three white University of Mississippi students who posed with a shotgun and an AR-15 in front of a sign commemorating the violent murder of 14-year-old civil rights icon, Emmett Till.
This image should not be taken lightly. At the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), we know that guns are more often used to intimidate than to kill.
We know that this image is armed violent intimidation.
It is a message of white supremacy and racism dressed in casual attire.
It is a racist, violent threat against an entire community.
The actions of these boys must not ignored or normalized. The students in the photo have been suspended from their fraternity but no further action has been taken by the University of Mississippi. This is unacceptable.
The administration must take immediate action to expel these students or they will be contributing to this normalization of hate.
We hope you’ll stand with us in telling the university and these boys that there is no room for hatred and racism in this country!
Inaction is complacency.
Make your voices heard and sign our petition today!
Josh Horwitz
Executive Director
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
