MSU student gov helps promote LOOTING as 'righteous' act

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on The Morning Watch. It has been republished with permission.

--- 

In the wake of George Floyd’s death and the ensuing riots and protests, Michigan State University’s student government is sharing content defending looting, claiming that white people can’t experience racism, as well as how to join a “White Space,” and more.

In a June 2 Facebook post, the student government, the Associated Students of MSU (ASMSU), shared a website in a post with a caption that stated, “Black Lives Matter. WE ALL have a part in this movement of change.” In the shared resource, looting is called “one of the most righteous anti-white supremacist tactics.” An article titled “In Defense of Looting,” claims that “for most of America’s history, one of the most righteous anti-white supremacist tactics available was looting.”

A similar article, “Forget ‘Looting.’ Capitalism is the Real Robbery,” claims white supremacy, capitalism, and government “work together to violently repress people who defend Black life.”

[RELATED: Nationwide, colleges face calls to ‘defund the police’]

In the website shared by ASMSU, a link titled “Reverse Racism is a Myth” cites a Twitter thread claiming racial prejudice can be aimed at white people, “but it is not considered racism.” Further, discrimination by black people does not affect “the rights of white people.” This is because by societal structures, “white people will always hold more power.” 

Another article included in the resources, “75 Things White People Can do for Racial Justice,”  advertised a “White Space,” an all-white gathering “to learn more about and talk out the conscious and unconscious biases us white folks have.” Additionally, the article states people shouldn’t buy from Amazon or Whole Foods, because they “advertise on -that’s to say fund- white supremacist media.”

The article, “How White Womens’ Tears Threaten Black Existence,” claims the continuing and increasing white fragility is to help “keep anti-Black racism thriving:” “White women are weaponizing their emotions and femininity to assert their power over bipoc [Black, indigenious, and people of color],” it further states.

[UCLA lecturer’s job in jeopardy after refusing ‘accommodations’ for black students]

ASMSU has recently and repeatedly shown support for university-wide and internal diversity training. In its last meeting of the 56th Session (2019-2020 school year), a new bill passed mandating all student government representatives attend “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training.” The newly elected ASMSU President has committed to a “10 Point Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” by an alliance of racial and progressive student groups at MSU.

Additionally, within the advertised website are “21 Free Resources for Teaching Social Justice in the Classroom.” Included is content from the Southern Poverty Law Center and Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States.”

MSU’s student government operates on a $2 million budget and consists of college elected representatives and representatives appointed by racial, ethnic, and social groups.