Black Protester Shouts, “This is not 1960!” As “Bleach Bomb” Attacks Rock The University Of Texas At Austin

By Nancy Hennen

The mood is tense at the University of Texas at Austin where black students and community members gathered to march next to civil rights leader Martin Luther King’s statue on campus. The group is angry over  a series of what could be racially motivated “bleach bombing” attacks, that have shaken the campus in recent days. “Bleach bombing” reportedly happens when white students allegedly single-out minorities by hurling bleach-filled balloons at them, sometimes from up high in apartment balconies.

Sophomore protester Taylor Carr, an anthropology student at UT, claims to have first-hand knowledge of the attacks and said, “It is people of color they are attacking in West Campus. Until we put pressure on the university to [protect] us, these events are going to keep happening.”

The college held a low-key press conference to discuss “bleach bombing,” but many black students were angry at how few people knew there was a press conference.  Former UT student turned community activist Chas Moore was one of those students and he was leading today’s rally.  He proclaimed loudly into the megaphone:

“This is not 1960,” Moore said. “We are not going to be afraid to walk anywhere. We are not going back in time.”

Moore encouraged any “bleach-bombed” student to report the attack to UTPD as well as APD. He also told students to report any incidents of prejudice that they experience to the Campus Climate Response Team.

Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly confirmed she also had knowledge of several reports of “bleach bombing” on the campus, saying, “On one hand it is very troubling and unfortunate that these reported incidents have occurred; however, it is beautiful and powerful to see our community come together and voice their concerns.”

By: nancy hennen