Students at several college campuses marched out of class Monday to honor Michael Brown, an unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer earlier this month.
Brown would've been in class on Monday at Vatterott College, instead his family held a funeral for the slain 18-year-old in the St. Louis area.
Youth in Ferguson called for a student walkout to both honor Brown and protest police violence and racial profiling, according to the web page HandsUpUnited.org, which promoted the demonstration.
The meaning of the "Hands Up" rallying cry is because many believe based on witness statements to media that Brown was shot with his hands up in an attempt to surrender. However, a pathologist hired by Brown's family could not confirm Brown did have his hands raised when he was shot.
The protesters have issued national demands, calling for President Barack Obama to come to Ferguson, for the Department of Justice to conduct a nationwide review of police brutality and racial profiling, requiring cameras on police departments with records of racial disparities or excessive force and immediate suspension without pay for officers using excessive force.
Activists promoted the event on Twitter over the weekend and Monday morning, some using a photo of Howard University students with their hands up as a background:
The walkout was planned for 1 p.m. Eastern, and participants were encouraged to share photos and video online. Activists posted images of their walkouts on social media using the hashtag #HandsUpWalkout:
There is no official list of participating schools, but it did include Washington University in St. Louis, George Mason University, Syracuse University, Antioch College, Sewanee and the University of Kansas.
#HandsUpWalkOut at #SU pic.twitter.com/mV7UJcYPul
— emelia (@meliebedelie) August 25, 2014