Plane with ‘Eradicate #BostonCollegeRacism’ banner flies overhead on commencement day
Updated 2:40 p.m.
On Monday, Boston College celebrated its 139th commencement exercises. Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich delivered the address, proud parents cried, and then a plane flew above Alumni Stadium with a banner reading “Eradicate #BostonCollegeRacism.’’
The message is linked to a campus group of the same name, which seeks to improve racial equality on campus.
Shortly after the flyover, the group posted the following statement to its Facebook page:
Although no one centrally involved in our organization planned or paid for the plane, the action was directly tied to the movement, and we are really excited and thankful for the increased exposure it has generated.
Since March, the group has tried to raise awareness for institutionalized racism at BC and beyond, and after Monday’s event, its leaders are hopeful their cause is gaining momentum.
Earlier this spring, the group says it met resistance when they tried to disseminate infographics that highlight disparities between BC’s statements and practices of racial equality, according to a leader of the organization who requested anonymity. Then, the group hung a banner on campus that was taken down when administrators said it did not comply with regulations, she said.
Their latest effort was a little harder to ignore.
The plane flew overhead for about 30 minutes, and captured the attention of the crowd. People talked, tweeted, and Yik Yaked about it.
“Myself and a few other key organizers were wearing T-shirts,’’ she said. “So when people saw us on campus after this happened, people were talking to us. We had undergraduates saying, ‘That was wast the best thing about commencement!’’’
During the ceremony, the crowd reacted on Twitter:
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A Boston College official declined to comment for this story.
Related slideshow: 2015 Commencement Speakers
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