RU President calls for students to participate in Sept. 19 Bigger Picture Rally and March
Radford University President Brian Hemphill is asking all RU students to participate in a Sept. 19 march and rally in Radford sponsored by the Black Lives Matter organization.
In a mass email to students, Hemphill asked RU students to “serve as exemplary role models for our campus, our community and our country.”
“To create needed and profound change, I ask that you join me in denouncing racism and reporting discrimination,” Hemphill wrote.
He continued that, “As an African American, I have witnessed racism throughout my life. I was discriminated against during my childhood, teenage years and college experience. … Today, acts of discrimination are still very real for me and so many others.”
Hemphill told students that his personal experience “represents only one of the millions of Americans who have experienced first-hand the injustice and intolerance in our society.”
“As a Radford family, we cannot allow others to define who we are, and what we stand for, and how we respond. As such, I applaud those who have faithfully supported Black Lives Matter in sharing a peaceful and powerful message for change, as well as hope.”
He continued, “As we move forward together in sharing a united message that Black Lives Matter, I am asking members of Highlander Nation to pledge in serving as active and vocal participants by advocating for equality and fairness now and well into the future. I look forward to joining with our passionate students as part of The Bigger Picture March and Rally to be held on the afternoon of September 19, 2020.”
Radford University’s enrollment in 2019 was 9,335 students.
Hemphill’s call for students’ participation in the rally and march comes at a time when the City of Radford has experienced a jump in COVID-19 cases – enough of a jump to be included in a recent New York Times list of the top ten outbreaks in the nation.
As of Monday, Radford reported 669 positive cases of COVID-19 – a large jump since students returned to campus at Radford University. That compares, for instance, to Pulaski County which has 182 cases as of Monday and 1,487 in Montgomery County.
City Council recently set a 50-person limit on gatherings in the city, which it has been enforcing. It was meeting Monday night to consider extending the time period in which the limit on gatherings is to be in place.
Radford University has a 10-person limit on gatherings and has been enforcing its gathering rule by suspending students for violations.
The Patriot reached out to Hemphill Monday afternoon on how the rally and march would co-exist with those gathering limits, however, he had not responded as of Monday evening.
By MIKE WILLIAMS, The Patriot
Editor’s note: A reader has taken exception with our stating that Black Lives Matter is sponsoring the Sept. 19 march. Our source stated BLM was the sponsor, and we reached out to Dr. Hemphill on the matter. He has not responded to our email. The reader sent us a link to a flyer for the march, which is displayed below. No sponsor of the event is named, however, there are a variety of organizations’ logos at the bottom of the flier.
RU President calls for students to participate in Sept. 19 Bigger Picture Rally and March RU President calls for students to participate in Sept. 19 Bigger Picture Rally and March Radford University President Brian Hemphill is asking all RU students to participate in a Sept. 19 march and rally in
...read more...6 foot rule out the window,School supposed to stay neutral on questionable organizations out the window,Mask out the window. I'm sorry but it seems like they want to make people sick and they back a violent racism group just doesn't sound right for some reason.
If violence comes to our small town due to Mr Hemphill's organized March. We as residents of this small town will hold him 100% accountable. His decisions have already made this town unsafe due to his inability to enforce community law on campus. We really have had enough already!
I want to know where our Mayor stands? He works there. He tried to shut down our businesses, wanted in enforce mask wearing and did this by calling an emergency meeting to get it done. Has the President met with your Mayor to discuss this action? Will he stand up
...read more...I want to know what our Mayor is going to do?? He works there!! He was going to shut down our businesses, tried to make use wear masks. How will he respond or will he join?? As another individual stated, they don’t care about Radford. Taxes are what they want
...read more...I can't believe that a public University would have such audacity to schedule such a rally in the midst of a pandemic especially when that University is part of contributing to the reguon being a hotspot for COVID-19! This is the most ludicrous and insensitive thing that I have ever
...read more..."I applaud those who have promoted a peaceful and powerful message" ???? BLM movement has done nothing but promote violence and destruction. Any time you put a color in front of "lives matter" your promoting racism. This march will do nothing but escalate the spread of the virus and and
...read more...Radford University should be calling for the resignation of Mr. Hemphill for the way he is handling the whole COVID-19 deal at Radford. As it is, the student body should be doing online classes. My son is in quarantine now, fortunately he was lucky and tested negative. That being said,
...read more...As a citizen who doesn't live in radford but works there. I'm in Pulaski County and my Dad is in Fairlawn then my Mom is in a Rehab in Radford I have to see to their needs and stay COVID free to take care of them. Now Mr. Radford University
...read more...I found an flyer and Facebook link for the event. Apparently it is sponsored by the Black Student Alliance, R-SPaCE or Radford Student Programming and Campus Events, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and the NAACP. Not exactly violent Marxist/Leninist anarchist thugs. Just sayin'. https://www.facebook.com/RU.CDI/photos/a.3364033596947079/3971307506219682/
...read more...We looked on Facebook as well, but did not find the document you speak of. We also did a Google search on "The Big Picture Rally and Marches" and turned up photos of marches and something about a song that has some connection apparently, or possibly just shares the name
...read more...How does Brian Hemphill and the University plan to uphold current suspensions due to gatherings, yet turn around and ask the entire student body (roughly) 9,300 students to gather together for this. Last I knew 10 students is the maximum for a gathering and 50 people in the city for gatherings.
Have you met the guy? Sounds like you want to "stir up trouble and promote racism", yourself. Lots of you lemmings (look it up) on this to thread could use a college education, or just an education in general.
If you are talking about Dr. Hemphill, I didn't see anything about men and women in blue.
I am all for gatherings. I think it is s part of our DNA as social people. As a group, the RU students have been responsible at the school and the only reason numbers have spiked is the mandatory testing. 99% of Radford has not nor will ever be tested.
...read more...All of those commenting before me should probably attend the march to see the bigger picture. Clearly you all are missing the point. Not once in his email did he mention this was apart of the BLM movement. Clearly the city of Radford needs to open its eyes to the
...read more...Maybe you should read the email it says sponsored by the Black Lives Matter movement at the very top
Maybe you should read the email. It says no such thing. The article in The Patriot says that at the very top, and no one at the Patriot has confirmed that that is true. The President's email did not say that.
No, I am not attending a March sponsored by a Marxist revolutionary party. The fact that the University is endorsing and sponsoring this March bothers me greatly. We don't need a large gathering spreading disease in our town, which was doing fantastic at keeping virus numbers low before students returned
...read more...Did you not read... it says Sponsored by Black Lives Matter!!! Maybe you should read before making an assumption about what is clearly written in black and white. BLM is a hateful group that is only wanting to divide a nation and remove all history that made the US the
...read more...First of all Ann, before you rush to judge Samantha for not reading, Brian Hemphill never said that the rally was sponsored by BLM, the article in The Patriot did, and if you try to search for evidence beyond this article to support that, there is none to be found.
...read more...Wow. And social distancing means nothing to this school. Their students are making it worse on everyone else. They sent the public schools home and RU students get to stay. Idiots
The public schools decision had NOTHING to do with the college cases. The contact tracing has proven the RU cases are not affecting the community cases.
This is ridiculous when even churches are not allowed to have gatherings of more than 50 people. Honestly sounds like he wants to stir up trouble and promote racism.
So Radford University doesn't give a damn about spreading covid to all of its yearly residents that pay taxes, support local businesses, attend high school football games, and many other things the town has. Kids can't go trick or treating, but your gonna have a mass of people marching, spreading
...read more...Radford is in deep doo doo now.
Something needs to be done to stop this..you have all these high schools students around and im sure there be bunch to go..and i have a child in one of them and I also have a young baby at home .If the covid is bad enough there already that they
...read more...The NRA should plan an event at the same time just to make things interesting. They can all open carry an AR-15 to see things remain peaceful and retained on campus.
Really? Why would you want to incite violence on a campus of young people. Mostly between 18-24 who will be peacefully protesting. Do you enjoy intimidation and creating toxic conflict? Look back at the videos and pictures of the mid-late 60’s civil rights movement, where MLK JR led peaceful protest.
...read more...Your name should be 'Karen' and ou're an idiot. You want people to bring guns to a college rally for BLM to "see what happens"? If they do, YOU should be held responsible if anything bad we're to happen. Now that I think about it, you were probably in the
...read more...You're an idiot, you want people to bring guns to a college rally for BLM to "see what happens"? If they do, YOU should be held responsible if anything bad we're to happen. Now that I think about it, you were probably in the KKK rally that we, the students,
...read more...Indeed, the nonchalance and irresponsible behavior of University population has made Life more difficult for Radford Citizens. And I agree, President Hemphill is naive and ridiculous. There are two LA (Compton) Police Officers who were both shot In the face Sunday while sitting in their car by a Black Lives
...read more...So, President Hemphill, just image how successful you could have been in your life , had it not been for systemic racism in America . Now, you are in a position to promote an organization that has an avowed Marxist co-founder who promotes a Marxist-Lenin ideology. As an educator, you
...read more...I'm sure he knows he is advancing Marxism and anarchy.
How is it even ethical to hold a rally with over 10 people, when the RU mandate is just that? Does he not consider that the RADFORD residents will be left to clean up his mess. A quiet, respectful rally is one thing, but we have enough proof groom months
...read more...Let the stones fall where they may . BLM is a violent , Marxist organization . Hemphill is promoting an event that is a violation of his mandated rule on gatherings . Radford city police and other LEO affilations should speak out . Future disciplinary actions against students should be
...read more...My kid's grandmother died from Corna virus last week. No one could be with her or say goodbye to her. Yesterday they lost a aunt and of coarse her husband couldn't even see her to say goodbye! You would expect more from educated people 😭😭
Sponsored or not by BLM, the fist logo with "the bigger picture words" is certainly intended to mimick the symbol of the BLM. If we want to move forward in this world, The Bigger Picture should be inclusion and equal rights for all. Any event separated by the color of
...read more...These quotes come directly from an article dated 08-25-20 in the Roanoke Times. What has changed since August 25th? I don't think President Hemphill should be encouraging this gathering not because of the subject but because we are still in the middle of a Pandemic. He should be enforcing his
...read more...Maybe you should read his letter first sentence sponsored by blm read on alf way down you'll see his comment all should be involved in the blm march at least 3 times he does mention blm PLease read
While Mr. Hemphill is entitled to his own opinion as a citizen of the United States, it is in very bad taste and in fact dangerous and disrespectful to openly encourage student participation in a protest march in support of a Marxist organization during a worldwide pandemic, in defiance of
...read more...I want to know were your Mayor stands?? He works there, so will he stand or sit in this matter. Here you have a Mayor that wanted to control the businesses in Radford about social gatherings, masks , etc. Leadership is poor in Radford when at one time it wasn’t
...read more...Thanks for accepting the feedback and posting the flyer. I think it more accurately reflects the organization's involved in sponsoring the event.
Regardless of what you think Nate, it is a reflection of how selfish people really are when it comes to THEIR agenda. The students who are expelled didn't have the same agenda so they pay the price.
Such a shame when a university president puts his political agenda before the health of university students and the community.
Such a shame when a university president puts his political agenda before the health of university students and the community.
Liberty University had a similar outing last week. By the remarks on this article, RU has ALOT of educating to do around Radford and The NRV's cultural ignorant population. As the popular meme states .. "The reason you don't get it is because you're RACIST" Black Lives Matter isn't a
...read more...WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO BLACK CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE VOTING FOR TRUMP AND BELIEVE THIS ENTIRE MOVEMENT IS PART OF THE RADICAL MARXIST LEFT. OPEN YOUR EYES, THE DEMOCRATS WILL PUT US ALL IN CHAINS.
Let me call all ten of Black Trump supporters across the country and ask...LOL. Typing in all caps doesn't make your message more true, it just makes you look dumber than your statement.
All 10? Wow you are very mistaken. Turn off CNN and follow people like Candice Owens, Brandon Tatum and The Hodgins Twins. Better yet, lookup “Blexit”.
Do you know that the founders of BLM are Marxists . Unless you are culturally ignorant, you know that. Patrice Cullors (Co/founder) is on record saying she is a Marxist follower. If you’re not culturally ignorant, you would know that’s Communism. Is that what you want for this country?
...read more...Patriot parade the same day. Same as Pulaski had.
I'm wearing my trump shirt
The first paragraph very clearly states, "Radford University President Brian Hemphill is asking all RU students to participate in a Sept. 19 march and rally in Radford sponsored by the Black Lives Matter organization."
Once again, that's what the article says, not Hemphill. He says "I look forward to joining with our passionate students as part of The Bigger Picture March and Rally to be held on the afternoon of September 19, 2020." He did not ask "all RU students to participate in a
...read more...Nate: Just to le you know, we did reach out via email to Dr. Hemphill for comment and with several questions. However, he did respond back.
Nate: Just to let you know, we did reach out via email to Dr. Hemphill for comment and with several questions. However, he did not respond back.
Very big difference. The event is not being sponsored by a national organization that many local people associate with radical politics and violent protests, but by local student organizations and the NAACP. If people think that some swarm of violent protesters are coming to their town, they are likely to
...read more...WILL YOU BE PROMOTING ALL LIVES? BLACK UNBORN LIVES? BLUE LIVES? WHITE LIVES? YELLOW LIVES? IF NOT THIS IS NO DIFFERENCE THAN A KKK RALLY.
Ok, that's fine and all, but where did you get the information that the the event was "sponsored by the Black Lives Matter organization"? I'm not saying its false, but what Hemphill says in his letter does not indicate that, and I've seen no publicly available information that corroborates that
...read more...We went with what a trusted source told us. We did, however, reach out to Dr. Hemphill about that issue and others to no avail. I believe, however, judging from Dr. Hemphill's comments that it is at the very least inspired by BLM if not sponsored. Probably very little difference.
As he supports BLM and speaks out against the men and women in blue, who does he anticipate to maintain a peaceful parameter? The very people he is “protesting”? Who will he call if this demonstration and his invitation to support hate does not incite peace but violence instead?
Forget the COVID spreading ramifications. Focus on the comments of the clown asking an entire student population to participate in something they likely haven’t even researched. The BLM movement is becoming like an infomercial with hundreds of “testimonials” that have no way to be validated or Vetted. Systemic racism has
...read more...It does seem poorly timed to support a rally when Radford has gathering ordinances in place, however these comments are so disgusting. No wonder the economy is so depressed in the NRV. No one who comes to school here wants to stay after graduating and make something of themselves, to
...read more...