Occupy SLU started in October 2014 with six days of peaceful occupation at Saint Louis University's campus clock tower that included daily teach-ins and community conversations, following the officer-involved shootings of two African American young men: Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and VonDerrit Myers Jr., the son of a long-time member of the SLU community, VonDerrit Myers Sr., in the nearby Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis.
Occupy SLU ended with the adoption of the Clock Tower Accords, a 13-point agreement committing Saint Louis University to actively strengthen diversity, inclusion and equity on campus. In the spirit of the Gospels, the Accords also extend that commitment to the city and suburban neighbors, particularly to underserved families.
#OccupySLU 2024: 10th Anniversary Events
Time and date: Oct. 3-5
Location: The Grandel Theater
Event description: Set on Chicago’s South Side, Lorraine Hansberry's celebrated play concerns the divergent dreams and conflicts in three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. Hansberry's portrait of one family’s struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration. Featuring local favorite Anita Jackson as Lena Younger.
Directed by Kathryn Bentley
“A Raisin in the Sun” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Sponsored by Visual and Performing Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, DICE, and African American Studies, and Prison Performing Arts
Time and date: 6 p.m. Oct. 5
Location: Il Monastero, 3050 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Event description: During Violence Prevention Month, The Village PATH and Undo Bias will be co-hosting the production of UnMasc (A Mens Storytelling Event). "UnMasc 3: Changing the Narrative on Masculinity" is a storytelling event featuring cis-men and non-binary folks, various ages, races, and both straight and queer sharing their own personal stories of how ideas of masculinity have affected them. Vulnerable and powerful stories are moving and transformative. Food and music included in the ticket price.
Tickets are $10 for students, $20 for general admission. All proceeds go to providing free therapy for Black men.
Time and date: Noon on Monday, Oct. 14
Location: Auditorium of the Center for Global Citizenship
Event description: As part of the OccupySLU 10th Anniversary events, we will be hosting a screening of the documentary Whose Streets? to contextualize OccupySLU within the broader Black Lives Matter movement and Ferguson October. Whose Streets?, directed by activists Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis, offers an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising following the police killing of Michael Brown. Told through the voices of those who lived through it, Whose Streets? captures the raw emotion, grief, and determination of residents, parents, artists, and teachers as they mobilize against systemic injustice. By connecting this moment to OccupySLU, the screening will explore how these local and national movements for racial justice are interwoven, and how, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Time and date: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14
Location: TBD
Event description: The OccupySLU panel discussion marks the 10-year anniversary of the student-led OccupySLU movement, and the uprising that arose in the wake of the tragic shootings of Mike Brown and VonDerritt Myers Jr.
The panel will reflect on the movement's impact, its connection to the long history of racial injustice, including enslavement and the lasting harm of systemic racism and police brutality. Participants will discuss how these past and present struggles intersect, with a focus on efforts for justice, repair and healing. The discussion will assess progress in the ongoing fight for racial justice, the quest for repair, and the work that still lies ahead to achieve true equity and healing for the affected communities.
The discussion will feature voices from activists and scholars, including Professor Justin Hansford, Jonathan Pulphus, Robin Proudie and will be moderated by Christopher Tinson, Ph.D.
Time and date: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15
Location: Auditorium of the Center for Global Citizenship
Event description: This special event will commemorate the 10th anniversary of OccupySLU by unveiling a video that reflects on the movement’s lasting impact, featuring insights from key student, faculty, staff, and community organizers involved in the grassroots movement of OccupySLU.
The reception will feature a fireside chat with Alisha Sonnier, Jonathan Pulphus, former members of Tribe X, and President Fred Pestello, Ph.D., moderated by Bukky Gbadegesin, Ph.D. This dialogue will highlight the power of student activism, the significance of OccupySLU, and its role in shaping SLU’s commitment to justice and equity.
Time and date: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15
Location: Clock tower
Event description: This event led by SLU’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars will highlight the critical role of student leadership in advancing social justice on our campus. This event will foster meaningful discussions on systemic injustice, reflecting on the significance of OccupySLU and the broader movement for racial and economic equity. The teach-in will underscore the transformative power of student activism and its lasting impact on the university's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
By amplifying student voices and their role in shaping institutional change, this event seeks to inspire continued progress toward justice on campus and in the community.
Time and date: Noon on Tuesday, Oct. 15
Location: Room 102 of DuBourg Hall
Event description: Hosted by the Division of Mission and Identity, this event will explore the enduring commitment of the Jesuit tradition to social justice, from St. Ignatius of Loyola to contemporary advocates like Fr. Heithaus. Through a thoughtful dialogue, we will examine how the teachings and actions of Jesuit leaders have shaped our understanding of justice work and continue to inspire us today.
Participants will engage with the historical and modern prophetic voices that have called for justice, equity, and compassion, highlighting the integral role of Jesuit values in our mission at Saint Louis University. Join us for this meaningful conversation that connects our past to our ongoing commitment to social justice in the present and future.
Time and date: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16
Location: Clock tower
Event description: The Prayer Service and Say Their Names will include reflections on justice, interfaith prayers, and a communal commitment to advocate for systemic change. Participants will come together to remember those who have been affected by police brutality and to renew our dedication to fostering equity and justice within our community. This event aims to uplift the voices of victims and their families, emphasizing the ongoing need for accountability and reform.
Time and date: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17
Location: Center for Global Citizenship Auditorium
Event description: This event invites an open discussion focused on the future of the Clock Tower Accords, emphasizing our commitment to continuous dialogue rather than a one-time conversation. Attendees will engage in a meaningful exchange about the progress made under the Clock Tower Accords, sharing insights and ideas for moving forward. This gathering aims to renew our collective dedication to justice and equity on campus, fostering collaboration and accountability as we work together to uphold the principles of the Clock Tower Accords in our community.
#OccupySLU Today
#OccupySLU emphasizes the racial and economic injustices of marginalized and brutalized human beings and communities, which, in turn, brought awareness about people, especially Black human beings, who wouldn’t otherwise be recognized by others who are living under far different realities — the pain and social ills that were at the center of the protesters' concerns.
Events at SLU related to #OccupySLU now raise awareness; remember the works of the fallen who have paved the way for our progress; assess the advancement and growth within the Clock Tower Accords; and highlight love, light, healing and justice.