The death of Pierre Damas Bel has led to public outcry around the nation. A press conference was held by community members in Springfield on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and students from Wright State University (WSU) have been raising awareness around campus.
One student, Abby Mullins, stood out in the Quad on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with a sign to get students’ attention and address the passing of her fellow classmate.
“I decided that I had to do something. I had to use my voice to speak up because he couldn’t use his,” Mullins said. “I’m just here to raise awareness that we, as [WSU] students, need to be better.”
Mullins is not the only student who feels this way, after reports in the media claim the death of Bel came after bullying from students on WSU campus.
Kayla Davenport, a Social Work major at WSU, saw Mullins outside with her sign and stopped by to listen to what she had to say and write a message of her own on the sign. She shared the sentiment that there needs to be changes to the University.
“It made me rethink how much of a community I thought WSU was. Why are we still bullying in college? WSU tries to promote this sense of unity and community, but obviously [Bel] wasn’t allowed in,” Davenport said.
A press conference was held by Pastor Carl Ruby with the Central Christian Church on Tuesday night, where many of his family members and friends spoke.
Yola Lamarre, an advocate for the Haitian community and a friend of Bel, called out the current administration and discussed the effect immigration laws and ankle monitors enforced by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) had on her friend.
“It was customary in his language to continuously over explain, and he didn’t have to, that he was not a criminal,” Lamarre said. “There is nothing just about this current immigration policy. There’s nothing just about shackling people that have not ever committed a crime."
Current changing policies have had a big impact on people in the community, including WSU. Last February, there was a walk-out on campus, led by the Social Work Club and Ohio Student Association, in the name of keeping ICE out of WSU.
Bel was not the only student who was affected by this administration. Many immigrant students have had concerns about the presence of ICE in the surrounding areas and the effect it may have on their education and their lives.
“I know students who are afraid to come to campus because they are worried ICE will be here, or maybe the police officers on campus will do something,” Davenport said.
Lamarre spoke about Bel’s aspirations for education and the things he accomplished in his life, despite the difficulties surrounding his time before and while attending WSU.
“Pierre was a rising student at [WSU]. He had aspirations to major in neuroscience. He told me how much education was important to him,” Lamarre said. “He was a JROTC student, he showed powerful leadership as a varsity soccer player. It’s time for people to wake up. This has nothing to do with immigration enforcement when you’re dehumanizing people, you’re putting chains on people.”
The Student Government Association (SGA) planned vigil for Bel on campus on Tuesday, Sept. 9, where students and community members showed up to honor the memory of their classmate.
In addition to this, SGA President, Eimaan Virani, is trying to make a resolution to have a memorial dedicated to Bel made on campus.
