Members of the Michigan Student Power Network will march to the Capitol on March 26 and provide a list of demands that reflect a progressive vision of Michigan that the group said represents young people’s needs.
The demands will be received by a group of progressive Democratic legislators, including Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.
Demands range from environmental issues to racial and political issues in Michigan, including ending gerrymandering, recognizing the failed nature of the war on drugs, repealing the right-to-work law, eliminating the educational achievement authority and including gender identity and sexual orientation in all anti-discrimination laws.
The list also includes comprehensive legislation to protect African-American citizens from violence, including police violence as well as demands for “equitably funded education.”
The march and rally was created as a way for students in Michigan to provide a collective vision of what they see as the most important issues that need to be addressed by state lawmakers, statewide organizer Ian Matchett said.
There are issues on the list that could be directly impacted by having hundreds of students support them, MSU Students United organizer Duncan Tarr said.
“The shut-down of line 5, which pumps fossil fuels under the straits of Mackinac, is a campaign that already exists, so adding our voices to that can be really powerful,” Tarr said.
Student organizers from groups around Michigan have been working directly with state legislators this month to work on ways in which the march can create real change for young people in Michigan.
“Lawmakers really see the event as sort of a ‘sexy’ thing in their words. It won’t automatically change anything, but they are willing to work with us on legislation proposals moving forward,” said Gabby Barahona, another student organizer.
Matchett said lawmakers want to see from young people if they’re serious, and the march will demonstrate they are.
“We are a collective group, and we’re going to vote for people who are going to represent our interests,” he said.
Currently, student groups from eight universities are involved in the march, including MSU, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, U-M Ann Arbor and Dearborn, Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University and Kalamazoo College.
Students are meeting at about 11 a.m. on March 26 at the Lansing City Market, where they will begin marching to the Capitol.
