UW students and staff say university is all talk, no action on racial equity

Students and staff at the University of Washington held a walk-out Thursday to protest racial inequity they see on – and off – campus.

They chanted: “Whose lives matter? Black lives matter! Whose lives matter? Black lives matter!”

Protesters say the university has done little to improve the way it handles issues of race and other inequalities since a similar walk-out a year ago.

One of their main demands:

“We want greater numbers of and better support for faculty of color at UW,” said Moon-Ho Jung, an associate professor in the history department.

Students and staff also called for more up-front discussions about issues of discrimination and institutional racism.

They chanted: “No action, no trust. Talk is not enough.”

And “UW you can’t hide, we see your greedy side.”

The greedy side they see is university investments in funds that protesters say include private prisons with a disproportionate number of people of color.

They’re calling for the university to divest from those funds.

University spokesman Norm Arkans says the UW does not invest directly in private prisons, but may invest in funds that include prisons.

Protesters marched through campus, including through the usually sedate Suzallo Library, and on to the Board of Regents meeting.

Calls to the Board of Regents were not immediately returned.