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Nearly 200 Morgan students demonstrated on campus at noon yesterday to raise awareness of the 276 girls abducted from their boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria by a group called, “Boko Haram.”

Boko Haram is an Islamic extremist group. The name means “Western education is forbidden.” The organization claims responsibility for kidnapping the 276 young girls from their school. Boko Haram is threatening to sell them into slavery.

Morgan students and faculty from various groups and organizations came together to voice their opinion about this situation and to demand that action be taken to bring the girls back home to their loved ones.

“We need to put the pressure on our government so that they know that this is an issue bigger than Nigeria,” said one of the speakers, Kia Smith. “It is bigger that the United States as well. It is a global concern.”

Chinedu Nworkeafor, a student in Morgan’s Student Government Association, said, “You can do it. I can do it. We can do it. We are Morgan State. We support those girls. God be with you all and God bless. Thank you.”

Another student recited a poem: “I speak for Nigeria, I speak for America, I speak for girls all around the world….so you tell me, when are we going to stand up?”

Alpha Nu Omega members sang a spiritual song. “Side by side, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, we will stand,” they sang. “Side by side, in the fight, we’re building up the kingdom, holding up the light.”

At the close of the rally, organizers handed out red, white or black balloons to all the participants. The colors—and balloon release—symbolized the hope for the girls returning safely to their families.

Photos by Teashera Smith