Last night, nearly 1,000 people came to the University of Montana to hear a key player in the Black Lives Matter movement speak. Patrisse Cullors was invited for UM’s annual “Diverse U” conference.
Murray Pierce, a university staffer who works with students of African descent on campus, said it was important for Cullors to visit Missoula, “because of our demographic, to some degree,” he said. “In Montana in particular. Areas like this, we’re all Americans. This is about democracy. Democracy involves engagement, it involves questioning, and it involves the things that folks are doing.”
Cullors said if white people think supporting Black Lives Matter is important, they should take the lead, ask questions, and not be afraid to mess up. Because she says it’s more about showing up than messing up.
There was no organized protest of the event. A man who started yelling during the question and answer period was escorted out of the ballroom.
