BEMIDJI – Bemidji State students scattered across campus’s Centennial Plaza Wednesday morning, writing meaningful, positive and inclusive messages in chalk to promote inclusion following a shocking incident the day before.

According to Bridget Westrum, a member of the Student Senate Cabinet, a man came onto campus around 11 a.m. on Tuesday carrying a sign with religious slogans on it, which many students believed was targeted hate speech.

“Yesterday there was a man down here on Centennial Plaza with a big sign full of hate speech,” Westrum said. “He was yelling at the students (with a megaphone) and telling them they were going to hell for being gay or having sex before marriage and things like that. So it’s not just gay people, it seemed like everyone who wasn’t him was going to hell – it was super disheartening.”

Westrum found that some students felt they were being targeted because of their appearance and sexual identity.

“He was definitely targeting female students with dyed hair,” Westrum said. “And then there was a 16-year-old female student (in post-secondary education) who was really verbally abused by this guy because she’s a lesbian. And she got into a little bit of an argument with him, and that’s when things really escalated.”

She said that at that time, around 1 p.m., other people were involved in the incident and the man was asked to remain on the public sidewalk in front of the campus.

“And yet he stayed on the sidewalk for a while, and then people came and he moved closer to the campus and the buildings again,” Westrum explained. “After every class he would yell at everyone who left the building.”

Westrum said he finally left around 3 p.m. and no students were physically injured.

On Tuesday evening, Westrum had the idea to organize a small event called “Positive Messages on the Plaza” to bring the campus together and give students a voice in response to the previous day.

“I can be a voice for students from time to time and this seemed like a good, colorful way to bring people together,” Westrum said. “I think there was some solidarity that emerged. Yesterday we had a prayer circle before this person left. Some religious people came and prayed for the people who were feeling hate. I think it was really encouraging for a lot of people to say, ‘This person is religious and they’re telling me that this (religious) guy is wrong (about me).'”

Charley Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer

As the day went on, the square became increasingly filled with loving messages.

“The Student Senate and our student community here at BSU do not support the actions of the individual who was on our campus yesterday,” said Student Senate President Darby Bersie. “It is so great to see how many people have come together here today to share positive messages with the students on our campus. We are already such a close-knit community and spontaneous events like this only bring us closer together.”

You could see the students mingling and drawing messages. You could see people laughing and hugging as they greeted each other and grabbed a piece of chalk.

“No one on this campus supports the message that was put out yesterday,” said BSU President John Hoffman. “There is nothing on our campus that wants to support that message in any way.”

Charley Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer

Hoffman added that Bemidji State can most effectively combat this negativity through students and their voices.

“Our most powerful tool is our students,” Hoffman said. “With them, we can raise our voices and drown out the voice of hate. I’m thrilled that this (event) came about so quickly and decisively from the idea of ​​one student. Look at all the students we have here. We have a lot of people who are bringing this message of love, acceptance and support.”

He also encouraged students to rely on each other, even when incidents are not as dramatic, but to offer each other positive support throughout the year.

Charley Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer

“If you’ve had a hard day, come into these spaces where people support you,” he said. “This community helps all of us when we have bad days. We need you, we want you here. You are valuable.”

Charley Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer

Charley Gilbert / Bemidji Pioneer