On September 23, 2011, 200 members of the multicultural community at the University of California, Berkeley gathered to discuss the Berkeley College Republicans’ “Increase Diversity Bake Sale” event that was to be held on Tuesday, September 27th. We formed a cross-cultural, cross-gender coalition, called The Coalition, which was dedicated to developing a campus of diversity, equity, inclusion and sensitivity.

The university has chronically failed to address the appalling lack of diversity. In response, we coordinated a mass demonstration at 11:30 AM, Tuesday, September 27th, on Sproul Plaza. Our action was not in opposition to the Berkeley College Republicans, or any other student group. Although we consider the “Increase Diversity Bake Sale” offensive, our action targeted the institutionalized exclusion of first-generation, low-income, and students of color and the cutting of the specialized academic and support services that worked with them.

I created the two “Don’t UC Us?” and “UC Us Now” phrases and logos above with the media team that had been put together. This event has been by far one of the most impactful moments of my life that I have been able to participate in. Check out a video that sums up the sentiment of that day for the demonstrators:

 

In the Media

Why our experiences cannot be discounted: http://www.dailycal.org/2011/09/27/why-our-experiences-cannot-be-discounted/

Live Blog: ‘Increase Diversity Bake Sale’: http://www.dailycal.org/2011/09/27/live-blog-increase-diversity-bake-sale/

UC Berkeley ‘Racist’ Bake Sale Triggers Angry Protest and Active Dialogue: http://www.ibtimes.com/uc-berkeley-racist-bake-sale-triggers-angry-protest-and-active-dialogue-648272

UC Berkeley ‘Racist’ Bake Sale Protested: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/uc-berkeley-racist-bake-sale-protested_n_984049.html#s375894

Hundreds protest ‘diversity bake sale’ at UC Berkeley: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/hundreds-protest-diversity-bake-sale-at-uc-berkeley.html