In a cutting-edge initiative, the FAMU chapter of the NAACP took the lead in organizing Saturday’s first-ever rally at Florida A&M University to raise awareness and protest genocide in Gaza, Sudan and the Congo.
The event saw passionate FAMU students alongside supportive community members, marching from Adams Street toward South Monroe Street, sending a powerful message that echoed through the heart of Tallahassee.
Zion Afolabi, vice president of the FAMU chapter of the NAACP, shared the executive board’s motivation behind the rally.
“Genocide and racial cleansing are human rights violations. So, I feel like regardless of where you stand, that should be enough to make you upset and not only challenge what is going on globally but also challenge our government’s role.”
The rally was marked by emotional chants, with students and supporters passionately expressing solidarity. Among the resonant chants was, “Gaza, Gaza, please don’t cry, Palestine will never die,” echoing the sentiments of those advocating for justice in regions plagued by conflict and violence.
As the rally progressed towards the Capitol, the FAMU NAACP members emerged as leaders, guiding their peers in a unified call for action. The significance of this initiative lies not only in its noble cause but also in being the first of its kind hosted by any FAMU organization, breaking the silence that has enveloped the university on these pressing global issues.
Lailah Choyce, a junior environmental studies major at FAMU, shared her discontent with the absence of education from her university regarding these real-time events. Choyce explained that she instead must rely on self-education via international news programs and social media.
“I remain educated by informing myself because I wasn’t learning about it in class,” Choyce said. “Watching the news, reading articles, and viewing posts on Instagram and TikTok of live footage from the events happening is my only form of education on the issue.”
Students expressed their hope that this rally would serve as a turning point, breaking the university’s comfortable silence on matters of global significance. The call for unity and activism resonated as they encouraged their peers to raise their voices against genocide. The overarching goal is to foster a campus culture that prioritizes social justice, human rights, and global awareness.
Ayanna Clark, a junior economics student studying at Florida A&M University, expressed her high hopes for progression in student-led events and advocacy for international human rights issues, such as Saturday’s rally, at her university from here on out.
“After today, I hope to see my peers seek out education and not allow our state government’s indifferent attitude towards these issues to make them feel like it’s OK to be unmoved by genocide,” Clark said. “I feel like most people think that protests don’t do anything, but having community members from Palestine and other supporters walking alongside us went a long way in motivating our student body to continue to do more.”
In interviews with student leaders, there was a shared sentiment that this event represents a beginning — a call to action that they hope will reverberate across the campus. The expectation is that the rally will not be a stand-alone event but rather the commencement of a sustained movement where FAMU students actively engage with the broader discourse on global issues.
As the FAMU NAACP blazes a trail in university activism, the hope is that their efforts will inspire other student organizations to address critical global challenges. The rallying cry heard on the streets of Tallahassee is now a challenge to the entire FAMU student body: break the silence, raise your voices, and stand against genocide.
The journey has just begun, and FAMU students are poised to lead the way in transforming their university into a hub of conscientious activism, fostering a spirit of solidarity that transcends campus borders. This rally was not just an event — it was the start of a movement that holds the potential to redefine the role of FAMU in shaping a better, more just world.