Black leaders rally around Howard University students protesting poor living conditions on campus

Black leaders are rallying around Howard University students who have been protesting since earlier this month what they say are subpar living conditions such as mold, mice and roaches in campus dorms.

Students at the historically Black college in Washington, DC, have been assembling for sit-ins at the school’s Blackburn University Center with tents, air mattresses and sleeping bags, demanding that Howard leadership address their concerns. The sit-in, which has been dubbed #BlackburnTakeover on social media, started on October 12.

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Some civil rights leaders are backing Howard students in their protest.

“I am both disappointed to hear the concerns of students at Howard University and proud of them for their bravery throughout this peaceful sit-in,” Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., said in a statement. “Historically, students and young people have been the life force of many movements, including ones led by my father.

“NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement earlier this month that the protests at Howard were a “courageous act” by the students.

“At no point is it acceptable for a student to face housing insecurities while attending school,” Johnson said. “Their demands must be met with swift attention and due diligence from the HU administration immediately.”

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