By Elizabeth Scalzo
Editor-in-Chief
The hashtag #blackouttuesday is rolling across the Instagram feeds of FDU students today.
Consisting of a post of a black screen with the caption #blackouttuesday, this viral social-media movement has caught on with many FDU student organizations.
Below are screenshots of just a few of the FDU organizations that have made posts for what is called Blackout Tuesday. This is a response to the civil unrest sweeping the nation as a result of the death of George Floyd last week while in police custody in Minneapolis.
“The amount of support from the organizations is amazing and even overwhelming,” Amaris Golden, a 2020 FDU graduate, told The Equinox via Instagram DM today.
The Instagram accounts of Greek Life organizations Omega Phi Chi, Zeta Beta Tau and Lambda Pi Upsilon all have #blackouttuesday post as well as student organizations such as Black Men’s Alliance, Org of Latino Americans and Society of Women Engineers.
“We are deeply troubled and saddened by the death of George Floyd and other recent acts that have tragically brought to light once again the scourges of racism and violence that plague our country,” FDU President Christopher Capuano emailed the FDU community Monday. “We stand with all Americans calling for justice and equality. It is time for our society to address the longstanding injustices that afflict our nation.”
A condensed version of President Capuano’s email is on the @fduwhatsnew Instagram account.
“Being a part of FDUs diverse community I have learned what it means to be an ally,” Kristianna Mullen, a graduate student majoring in education, told The Equinox today via text message. “I’m so happy to see the number of student organizations supporting this cause to help bring awareness to the Black Lives Matter Movement. It is important to come together at times like these and seeing the amount of support shows the love within the FDU student body.”
Blackout Tuesday originally started in the music industry where many music labels pledged to “not conduct business as usual and instead spend time reflecting on how to support the black community,” according to a Rolling Stone article published Monday, June 1. The article says major music labels participating include Sony Music, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group, along with smaller labels they own.
The original hashtag has over 13 million posts and counting, according to the hashtags page on Instagram.
Photo By Elizabeth Scalzo
