U.B. Students Take Anti-Crime Protest to National Assembly

In Belmopan, where the upper house met today, a group of students left their classrooms at the University of Belize and headed over to the national assembly building. For about an hour, they protested the spike in violence against children, which is ripping apart families and communities.  From sexual abuse to the gun violence that is killing innocent children, the protestors had a message on behalf of those who cannot be heard. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Around eleven a.m. today, a group of about thirty students of the University of Belize and a few lecturers staged a small protest outside the national assembly building as a meeting of the senate convened. The students, bearing posters, were chanting for justice for youths and women as victims of violence in Belize.

Carmencita Adilma Romero

Carmencita Adilma Romero, Faculty of Education/Arts, UB

“It was a student initiative. As you can see the students and I organized this peaceful march and the objective is for us to make a statement about all the social issues occurring in the country. They were children, they understand—they have little sisters and brothers; they understand the issues and they are very upset at what has happened. As we listened to the guest speaker, we realize that we need to do something. Everybody had a lot to say about what is happening and something needs to be done to protect the children.”

“Protect our future, protect our children,” was among some of the strong messages by the young persons who say they want to help in breaking the silence. The students from the national university say they represent the thousands who couldn’t attend due to classes and tens of thousands more young people across the country who are crying for help.

Sydellie

Sydellie, Business Student, UB

“We are trying to show them that we are aware and we are not expecting change overnight; that is not a realistic goal and it’s just not going to happen. But we know that we can be united and we are saying to everybody out there, watch the news; pay attention to what’s happening in your country. Know your laws. If we know this and we unite, we don’t have to wait for them to make the change; we can make the change. We are the change.”

Kyna Cal

Kyna Cal, English Student, UB
“Children don’t get to have a voice; children can’t stand out here march and parade and be taken seriously. So as the only university in Belize, it is time for us to take a stand. No more to the violence that is happening; no more to all the silence that is happening throughout our country. So this is what we are doing today; we are taking a stand in the best way possible that we think. It is a peaceful march; it’s not dealing with any politics. It is just creating awareness that enough is enough. Our children need a voice and we are being that voice.”

“Stand up for me, protect me, educate others, advocate for me.” But is this message falling on deaf ears?

Carmencita Adilma Romero

“This is a start; this is how it happens. We can’t sit in the classrooms; we can’t sit behind our desks and not do anything. Education is what makes us come out here, critical thinking. Let’s start, let’s do something. This is a start.”

Duane Moody for News Five.