Black Lives Matter Speaker Sparks Controversy at Texas State

Jacquelyn Carter
Senior News Reporter

This afternoon Texas State University’s office of Student Involvement and Student Diversity and Inclusion will host Opal Tometi as the Spring 2016 Social Justice Speaker Series.

Tometi, along with Alicia Garza and Patrisse Cullors, introduced the world to the twitter hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and quickly became recognized as a New Civil Rights Leader for the 21st Century.

Tometi will deliver a keynote speech addressing her work as a social justice advocate and activist.

Students like Mariana Zamora are looking forward to the event and encouraged other students to attend.

However, a picture of a posted Black Lives Matter protest letter has begun circulating the internet stating: “#BlackLivesMatter is a VIOLENT hate group that opposes law enforcement so strongly that they kill INNOCENT cops”.

The letter invites students with conservative views to join in a protest 1 hour before Tometi’s speech, emphasizing “If the university wants equality, then they need to hear from our side as well”.

In response to the letter, Unrepresented Student Advisory Council President Ramces Luna invited those who oppose the idea to the event.

Though the university has not issued a response to the protest letter, Texas State’s Pan African Action committee did tweet a suggestion that attendees wear the color black to show support for Opal Tometi’s right to speak.

Tometi will speak today, March 28 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.