NORFOLK, Va. — Demonstrators gathered at Norfolk State University for the NSUnity walk on Saturday.
The walk was organized by NSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in partnership with other area university student-athletes. The group, known as the "757 Student-Athlete Coalition for Social Change" felt this was a great opportunity to unite students from several different colleges around Hampton Roads to address social justice, racial discrimination, diversity and inclusion within the world and community.
Brenton Duvall, one of the organizers and a student at Christopher Newport University says he has a platform that he can use to speak out about these issues.
"As a Black male, I feel like I should never have to have a fear for my life. I recognize that I'm an athlete and I have a platform. It is the right time, the right moment and the right place to say what I have to say and make a difference in our society right now," he said.
The event kicked off Saturday morning at Wilson Hall. The demonstrators then peacefully marched to the former site of the "Johnny Reb" statue in downtown Norfolk.
The idea was to use the athletes' platform to not only raise awareness but to also show that without a jersey on, they're just as vulnerable to injustice as anyone else.