Emma Dietz
Once again, civil rights advocates rightfully gathered to raise their voices about the injustice of police brutality against people of color following the death of another unarmed black man.

Jamar Clark, 24, was shot by police around 1 a.m. Nov. 15 in north Minneapolis while allegedly interfering with paramedics assisting his girlfriend in a domestic abuse case. Clark was involved in a struggle with white police officers Dustin Schwarze and Mark Ringgenberg. He died the following evening after being removed from life support. Both officers are on paid administrative leave.

Almost three weeks of protesting occurred at the 4th Precinct building, the police station where the officers worked. Protesters set up makeshift tents and blocked Plymouth Avenue, asking for police to release the video of the altercation.

According to National Public Radio, police cleared all protesters from the 4th Precinct building at 4 a.m. Dec. 3 with only 10-15 minutes of warning beforehand. Protesters continue to demand justice.

Often, students feel removed from tragedies because they take place far away. Even Clark’s story, while it happened close to home, remains something casually talked about over lunch rather than a call for concrete activism.

Instead of remaining on the sidelines as injustice happens in this city, students must work to support reeling communities nearby.

Students must not allow themselves to remain ignorant to the issues happening right on their doorstep.

Clark’s story happened here. Because of that, the St. Louis Park community must do more to support those who grieve and fight.

Students need to step up to make sure this never happens again.

Students must promote objective conversations about important issues brought to light by Clark’s death. Listen to the stories of people who experience police violence every day and hear them without judgment or dismissiveness.

Understand while these issues do not affect everyone in the same way, they harm the equity and safety of a community. The security of those in St. Louis Park must be a priority.

The community must reject ignorance, hatred and bigotry. Students must continue to be active allies in the face of injustice. They must stand in solidarity with the protesters, because this could happen anywhere.

If this can happen in Minneapolis, it can happen in St. Louis Park. The community must not wait to pick up the pieces afterward. Instead, police officers, community members and students must come together to discuss a plan for prevention. The plan must be created on equal footing, in order to move toward a more balanced community.

Students can make a change in their communities. They must always look to the future, and do whatever they can to make the spaces they occupy more equitable.