Shaw College, the primary HBCU within the south, is in search of to rezone 27 acres of its downtown campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, whereas additionally asking for its property to be redesignated as a “Blended Enterprise District”. They’re requesting to extend the present heights of its buildings to 30 tales nonetheless, a campus plan has not been offered. Raleigh Metropolis Council was scheduled to vote on the matter in Could, however delayed their determination; encouraging the college to have additional engagement with involved constituents as they referred to as for extra transparency. Dr. Paulette Dillard, president of Shaw, declined the invitation to have a digital city corridor with the two,000+ petitioners who signed the letter in opposition to the campus rezoning at SaveOurShaw.org.
Save Our Shaw, a community-based, grassroots coalition that was shaped as a direct results of Shaw College’s rezoning request, hosted the “Residents United In opposition to Gentrification Rally” on Saturday, June tenth. The rally introduced collectively alumni, neighborhood members, activists, and advocates in a robust present of solidarity in opposition to displacement and gentrification.
Contributors marched across the perimeter of Shaw’s campus, demanding that metropolis leaders and college administration prioritize the wants of the scholars, the neighborhood, and different stakeholders, over profit-driven improvement schemes.
“We’re thrilled with the turnout and the power of the rally,” stated coalition spokesperson and Shaw College alum Eugene Myrick. “Shaw isn’t just a bodily area, however a cultural and historic landmark that ought to be protected AND revered. The Save Our Shaw coalition has been working to carry collectively neighborhood members, organizations, and different stakeholders to encourage collaboration that may assist modernization with out commercialization along with stopping the potential displacement of long-time residents in Southeast Raleigh.”
“We won’t stand idly by as our college and surrounding neighborhoods are destroyed by incompetent and absent Board of (dis)Trustee Members,” added Myrick. “We’ll proceed to face up and battle for justice and equality for Shaw College, present & future college students in addition to all the members of our neighborhood.”
The Save Our Shaw Coalition is dedicated to ongoing organizing and advocacy efforts to make sure that town’s improvement insurance policies prioritize the wants and well-being of Shaw College college students and the encircling neighborhood. Metropolis Council is scheduled to vote on Shaw’s rezoning request on June twentieth at 1pm.
They’re asking those that really perceive the unimaginable significance of our HBCUs to instantly ship an e-mail voicing their opposition to the erasure of Black historical past to [email protected]
This information first appeared on blacknews.com
