Students gathered around the Ohio Union to protest against the killing of unarmed Black man

Demonstrators enter the Ohio Union to state their demands and plead for support from the university.

Credit: Arianna Smith

By Amani Bayo

Several students gathered Friday afternoon to express dismay against the Ohio State relationship with the Columbus Police Department  and their string of violence against the community.

An uproar sparked on campus after 20-year-old Donovan Lewis was fatally shot by CPD officer, Ricky Anderson, in his bedroom Aug. 30, according to body-camera footage. Devin Smith, a fourth-year in integrated social studies education, and Issac Wilson, a second-year in aerospace engineering, led the group across campus with chants and a list of demands for the university. 

The group urged the university play a bigger role in preventing violence toward the Black community by the police, including condemning the CPD. They also called for the immediate termination of Ricky Anderson’s position and an independent investigation of the shooting that took place, according to Smith.

“I’m just sick and tired,” Smith said. “We are targets.”

Lewis’ death follows a string of Black deaths at the hands of CPD including Ma’Khia Bryant and Andre Hill in recent years.

In an email, university spokesperson Christopher Booker outlined the univerisity’s sentiment and its relationship with CPD.

“Ohio State supports the right of our students, faculty and staff to peacefully express their views and to speak out about issues that are important to them. Freedom of speech and civic engagement are central to our values as an institution of higher education,” Booker said.

According to Booker, The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) is the primary law enforcement agency on all of their campuses.

“In Columbus, we hire individual Columbus Division of Police (CPD) officers for specific services, largely traffic control on city streets for athletics events. We also have a mutual-aid agreement in place that allows our OSUPD to assist CPD off campus in certain circumstances,” Booker said.

Yondris Ferguson, a fourth-year in political science, said he has consistently attended protests throughout his years at Ohio State and is frustrated that their efforts have not brought effective reform.

Student organizers urge for acknowledgement from Ohio State administration outside of Bricker Hall.

Credit: Arianna Smith

“There hasn't been a year yet, there hasn’t even been a semester yet, where I have not attended a protest led by students in this community for a purpose such as this” Ferguson said. “We must make sure that this young man does not die in vain.”

Ohio State staff and faculty members also spoke out against police violence and extended their support and mental health services to the students. 

Charity Martin-King, director of social change in the office of student life, said speaking out against police violence is an important step to fostering change.

 “I think that's part of the Buckeye experience,” King said. “Learning how to dissect things and be able to speak out on something.”