“Black Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter” [banners] were hung up even before the decision to not indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson was released on November 24th. Grace B. Assaye ’16, co-chair of the BSU and chair of the BSU’s Political Action Committee, said ‘All Lives Matter’ was included to “reject the idea we were being too exclusive.”

After the verdict, students replaced only the “Black Lives Matter” banner in Lobby 7 in an effort to emphasize that black people in particular were disproportionately affected by racial profiling and police violence. Within a few hours of the 9 p.m. verdict, students including BSU members, had also begun placing printed signs on bulletin boards around campus.

"MIT students protest Ferguson grand jury decision on campus," The Tech, 5 December 2014