Black Justice League
The Black Justice League was a student organization at Princeton University.
History
The Black Justice League (BJL) was a student organization founded by 15 students in September 2014 initially to protest the killing of Michael Brown, and later to bring elements of the Black Lives Matter movement to Princeton University.[1][2]
Beginning in September 2015, the BJL began to focus on the legacy of former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, traditionally a much-loved figure at Princeton, according to the New York Times. BJL distributed posters around campus highlighting Wilson's views on race and called on the school to distance itself from Wilson.[3][4]
In November 2015, the group staged a walkout of approximately 200 students toward Nassau Hall and held a 32-hour sit-in in the office of Princeton University president Christopher Eisgruber in protest over what they saw as racial injustice and university inaction.[5] The BJL presented a list of demands, including renaming the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, mandatory cultural competency training for staff, instituting academic requirements on racial identity, and affinity spaces for black students. About 30 students remained in Eisgruber's office into the night. Eisgruber refused to sign on to the demands. The BJL's protests were part of a string of similar occurrences across college campuses in the United States, including Georgetown University.[6][7]
A new student group called the Princeton Open Campus Coalition formed to opposed the BJL's methods and demands.[8]
After the sit-in, Princeton's board of trustees appointed the Wilson Legacy Review Committee to consider how the university should recognize Wilson. In April 2016, Princeton's board of trustees voted to keep Wilson's name of campus buildings and programs.[4][9]
Later developments
On July 8, 2020, Princeton professor Josh Katz wrote an essay in Quillette criticizing the BJL as "a small local terrorist organization that made life miserable for many (including the many black students) who did not agree with its members’ demands". Katz's description of the BJL was criticized by faculty administrators of the Department of Classics, including department chair Michael Flower,[10] and Princeton University president Christopher L. Eisgruber, but the university did not put Katz under investigation for formal action.[11]
In 2022, Princeton University reopened an investigation into Katz stemming from a 2018 suspension for engaging in a consensual sexual relationship with a student. The reopening of the investigation was criticized by conservatives and free speech advocates for punishing Katz for his views about the BJL and other political matters.[12][13]
References
- ^ Shea, Christopher (2016-01-13). "Behind the Sit-In". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Beer, Susan (2016-02-15). "Racism chiseled on our walls – and the fight to erase it". CNN. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Goldberg, Barbara (2015-12-04). "Woodrow Wilson's racism 'did some harm,' great-grandson says". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ a b Markovich, Alexandra (2016-04-05). "Princeton Board Votes to Keep Woodrow Wilson's Name on Campus Buildings". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Resurfacing history'\: A look back at the Black Justice League's campus activism,". Daily Princetonian. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Brait, Ellen (2015-11-23). "Princeton students demand removal of Woodrow Wilson's name from buildings". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Markovich, Alexandra (2015-11-18). "Princeton Students Hold Sit-In on Racial Injustice". New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Vosbikian, Christina (2015-11-23). "Princeton Open Campus Coalition opposes BJL protests in letter to Eisgruber '83". Daily Princetonian.
- ^ Merriman, Anna (2016-04-05). "Black Justice League opposes Princeton U.'s Woodrow Wilson decision". NJ.com. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Classics chair calls professor's language on BJL 'absolutely abhorrent,' as Katz defends 'blunt speech'". The Princetonian. July 14, 2020. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "Katz defends 'blunt words' in op-ed, as Department of Classics removes condemnation from website". The Princetonian. July 27, 2020. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ Belkin, Melissa Korn and Douglas (2022-05-23). "Princeton Board Fires Tenured Professor Joshua Katz, Backing President's Recommendation". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
- ^ "Princeton dismisses professor Joshua Katz 'effective immediately' after U. investigation finds policy violations". The Princetonian. Retrieved 2022-05-24.