Chanting #NoJusticeNoPeace #MSUStudentBlackout is holding as order is given to vacate @LSJNews @thesnews @CityPulse pic.twitter.com/k0L1vT8m15

— Connor Meston (@ConnorMeston) November 18, 2015

The protesters, after attending a “National Black Out Day” dialogue to discuss race on MSU’s campus at Brody Grotto, marched to Kellogg Center around 4:30 p.m., temporarily blocking traffic on S. Harrison Road on the way.

“The goal of this protest is to bring awareness, to let our voices be heard,” media and information freshman Maalik Jones said. “It’s been too many times we’ve been thrown, casted aside, our opinions have been shown and they didn’t matter, so instead of trying to be somewhat peaceful, we’re trying to let our voices be heard forcefully.”

@thesnews Student protester Maalik Jones on the occupation: pic.twitter.com/uAnfAo4IYF

— Rye-ly (@LoafofRyeBread) November 18, 2015

The students, in an attempt to get a direct audience with MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, joined arms and blocked staff and media from entering the room in which Clinton's speech was scheduled to take place.

"There are people on campuses across the country... people of color who are tired of being either ignored, invisibilized, targeted, or attacked while on campus," African American and African studies graduate student Michael Wilson said.

Wilson was appointed as one of the group's media liaisons during the demonstration.

@thesnews Protesters are occupying Kellogg center before Bill Clinton's scheduled appearance: pic.twitter.com/FjJ0wwT9F6

— Rye-ly (@LoafofRyeBread) November 18, 2015

"As a collective, we have students that are undergraduates and graduates from different departments who want to use this day to say this is enough," Wilson said. "We want to make sure that we assert our right to exist freely without feeling like we are being threatened or that our education is being compromised."

Those attending Clinton’s speech were routed through another entrance and the event proceeded as planned, but the protester's chants were heard throughout the room.

Eventually administration sent a liaison, saying the protester’s demands would be heard by President Simon if they met her in a nearby auditorium, but protesters refused to budge unless Simon herself led them there. The group only moved once police declared the protest unlawful.

Simon held a discussion with the protesters and eventually agreed to a meeting with a select number of students on a later date. But Simon did not promise any direct action and said she has no plans to meet the protester's first demand, which called for the creation of a department of African American and African Studies with an annual supplies, services, and equipment budget of at least $200,000, twenty graduate assistant lines for the doctoral program, and, at minimum, ten tenure-stream faculty members by Fall 2017.

“I can’t stop some of the things you’d like for me to stop,” Simon said.

The students expressed to President Simon that, unlike many recent protests on American college campuses, their goal was not to have her removed, and going to the board would be a last resort.

“Nobody’s saying we don’t want President Simon here, we’re saying we want President Simon to work with us,” Wilson said. "There were points that we wanted to make in terms of our existence that I feel that were made... I think (President Simon) heard. The only way to decide if she understood, is if she develops tangible items (to act upon) that are trusting. That will determine if we’ve been listened to.”

Simon and the administration have another dialogue with students planned for this Friday at 3:30 to 5:00 Pm, in the McDonel Hall Kiva. The protesters have created a list of demands, which can be read on this website.