During the Spring Involvement Fair on Jan. 27, 2021, a total of 51 nameless and unauthorized users ambushed the Penn State Black Caucus’ Zoom room.
These lone wolves directed complicit racist and homophobic epithets toward three Black Caucus Executive Board members, penetrating the chat room with white supremacist and anti-Semitic language and symbols. Several individuals who partook in this attack screamed into their microphones, played loud music and revealed themselves in a sexual manner. Members of the Penn State Black Caucus reported and removed each unwanted user, and notified the Penn State administration instantly.
The Penn State Black Caucus is an organization that aims to promote and protect the safety and well-being of all the minority students, student organizations and student groups at University Park. The traumatic and inexcusable actions of the Zoom meeting have disappointed the members of the Penn State Black Caucus but has not disheartened them to seek justice.
A coalition of other Black student organizations is demanding immediate action to the incident. In response, many students have reposted the organization’s Instagram post and wrote emails to Penn State’s administration. It is time that Penn State condemns the racist behavior by the 51 unwanted users and provides a safe and secure environment for its Black students.
VALLEY stands with Penn State Black Caucus and offers support in every way we can.
