To all students at SF State and Associated Students:

We, the Black Student Union, and the undersigned organizations are writing to condemn the actions of San Francisco State University’s Associated Students(AS) and demand the organization step back from the mural celebration this year because of the following reasons. On multiple occasions throughout this academic year, members of our organization have faced anti-black actions by Associated Students. As this organization is completely run by student fees, we are enraged at their complete disregard for students. The Black Student Union demands that Associated Students back out of their scheduled Malcolm X Mural Celebration and make attempts to repair relations with the Black Student Union while we continue with our own mural celebration.

On March 9th the BSU was reached out to an AS employee via text to meet and discuss the Malcolm X Mural Celebration. On March 10th, BSU met and discussed the event. Soon after, the BSU was made aware of problems AS was creating for another student organization known as, SKINS. These problems included: SKINS not being able to speak freely and lack of payment for the Mexica dancers SKINS invited to their mural celebration^[1]. This resonated with BSU as our organization has also experienced many unpleasant encounters with Associated Students this year. These encounters included long delays in payment for our members, financial obstacles for us, and even situations of borderline harassment. One where our board members were followed and asked for names as we returned our amazon items to the Business office.

As the above-listed reasons continued with no remedy and we felt strongly about showing solidarity, our organization came to a consensus that we would not be working with Associated Students to celebrate the Malcolm X mural and would rather do our own. Instead of working to repair our relationship, Associated Students immediately began reaching out to other Black organizations to take our place. Despite the mural being there because of the labor and sacrifices of the BSU protest, Associated Students reached out to other Black organizations on campus to be a part of this celebration without explaining the reasons BSU chose to separate and do their own. Associated Students saw this work and the BSU as replaceable.

After meeting with the executive director of Associated Students, Tonee Sherill, we found out members of the professional staff did not even know the history of the mural until they were told by BSU members on April 19th, 2022. There is not a more perfect definition of performative than hosting an event to celebrate a mural without knowing any of the historical context as to why the mural is there.

As an organization, Associated Students says they are “for the students, by the students”. To Associated Students we say:

We, the Black students of Black Student Union, are telling you your mural celebration is not for us or by us. It is performative and without meaning. Because of this, we demand you cancel it. And if you choose not to cancel, we will actively discourage attendance for it in promotion of ours. We will take further actions if necessary.

Furthermore, we condemn the actions put forth by Associated Students to pit Black organizations against each other. Black students are not pawns in a game for you to play. We are not a monolith but searching for other organizations to be part of an event that is here because of BSU is a divisive and irresponsible way to spend our student dollars.

Signed,

SFSU Black Student Union

April 25th, 2022

Authored by Lee Lockhart

Organizations as of Thursday April 28th, 2022:

Student Kouncil of Intertribal Nations at SFSU

SFSU Students for Quality Education

Black Film Club

Black Residents United in Housing

Eco students at SF State

Sister Sister Club

Young Democratic Socialist of America

Impact SFSU

Substance Use Peer Prevention

African Student Association

Muslim Student Association

MEChXa de San Pancho

League of Filipino Students

The Afro-Latiné Club

Delta Kappa Alpha, Epsilon Chapter

Alpha Phi, Eta Theta Chapter

Cinema Collective at SFSU

Hermanas Unidas de SFSU

Phi Sigma Sigma | Delta Gamma Chapter

PACE at SF State

SFSU Latino/a/x Film Club

Delta Kappa Sigma

SFSU Gators LinkedIN Group

Communication Studies Student Association

SFSU National Panhellenic Council

United Greek Council