April 15 marks 55 years since U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn joined students from colleges across the country at Shaw University to form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The group is credited with giving a voice to black students that catapulted the civil rights movement.
Clyburn, a Democrat who represents South Carolina, returned to Shaw on Tuesday with a clear message: It’s time to activate – again.
“You young people on college campuses all over this country are too quiet,” he said. “You’ve got to activate. The trajectory changed in 1960 because students off this campus and campuses all over the country got involved. Y’all have got to get involved again, and things can change again.
“You cannot stay quiet,” he urged. “If you do, just remember: Anything that’s happened before can happen again. Activate.” read more
