Rev. Sharpton Commends Pro-DEI Student Protesters, Urges More Faculty And Student-Led Action

Harlem photojournalist Seitu Oronde captured NAN’s 27th weekly DEI rally outside of Bill Ackman’s Manhattan office.

The protest the contentious billionaire’s role in the attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This week’s “DEI Thursday” picket follows a rally in defense of DEI held last Thursday at the University of North Carolina – Asheville among a number of other student and faculty-led college protests against anti-DEI initiatives across the country.

Similar demonstrations have been staged at the University of Louisville and the University of Texas – Austin, and dozens of students from the University of Alabama rallied in the halls of the State House in Montgomery to oppose now-enacted legislation that bans DEI initiatives in public institutions throughout the state.

Rev. Sharpton will call on students across the country to continue to hold college administrators and politicians who oppose DEI’s feet to the fire.

Related: Click here to find more of Seitu Oronde’s photo essays at Seitu’s World.

Rev. Sharpton and NAN have protested Ackman’s office every Thursday this year, beginning with Ackman’s pressure campaign to remove then-Harvard University President Claudine Gay.

The hedge fund billionaire’s actions and words fueled even more scrutiny and measures to undo DEI commitments, especially in Corporate America and higher education, many of which were made after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

Here are photographs with students, residents and others:

Photo credit: Sietu Oronde.