There is so much going on in the world right now it's hard for me to even process. It feels a little bit like back when the Berlin Wall fell, doesn't it? People in the streets, peacefully demanding their rights. Tufts students have a history of being willing to come out to support causes they care about, and so do Medford residents.
Some of my favorite images from our collection:
- Protest placards, 1969.
- Students console each other at rally, 1999. Looking at the Tufts Daily from that same day, it looks like this image consists of members of the Tufts Transgendered, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective in the wake of a violent crime on campus. The rally was organized by Carl Sciortino, who after graduating from Tufts, was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
- Tufts demonstrations at Gore rally, fans, 2000. It looks like that's actually Albert Gore there shaking hands, although I can't be sure, and the caption doesn't make it clear.
- Students protesting Apartheid, 1978.
- Student rally against racism, 1987. It looks like this rally was in response to a violent hate crime on campus reported in the Tufts Daily.
- Dog with sign protesting new dorms, 1978. I will never get sick of this dog. Those dorms were also protested by human Medfordites, such as the adults and children pictured in Protest over new dorms, 1978.
- Protest at Jiong speech, 2000. I can't find a record of the speech this is protesting; do any of you know?
- Fletcher Dean Edmund Gullion's office bombs to protest University's military ties to Vietnam War, 1971. Watching people stand up for their rights and responsibilities is always inspiring, but bombing the Fletcher school is quite obviously indefensible. No one was hurt.
Student protests and rallies are often about standing in support of others. Many of the protesters around the world today are risking lives or livelihoods to stand up for what they believe in. Our hearts are with you, wherever you are.
Some of the photographs are included with descriptions after the jump.
Students holding hands, standing in a circle. One woman in the foreground with a determined face
A child in the foreground holds a sign saying DON'T COUNT YOUR DORMS BEFORE THEY'VE HATCHED. An older child behind her has a sign which says WE WANT FLOWERBEDS NOT STUDENT BEDS. Behind them, a number of adults hold other signs
Policeman stand in front of a row of protesters waving American flags, holding FREE TIBET signs, as well as a number of other signs. The protesters are behind a barrier.
A pile of stenciled signs lie on the grass. Visible ones read BRING ALL OUR GIS HOME NOW and VIETNAM FOR THE VIETNAMESE.
A student kneeling in front of a pile of burned, shredded books and other detritus.