By Lytle Wurtzel
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Tonight, a mother comes to share her story. Tonight, a mother will talk about the violent death of her son, the racial profiling she believes was behind his death and the exoneration of his killers.
Tonight, the University Programs Council Speakers Committee presents Kadiatou Diallo to tell her story in her own words to the University community.
The death of Diallo's son, Amadou, three years ago sparked national media attention on the injustice of racial profiling.
In February 1999, New York City police officers in pursuit of a rapist came upon Amadou, an unarmed African immigrant and college student. Police believed him to be their suspect and when Amadou reached for something in his jacket, the four officers erroneously presumed he was reaching for a gun and shot him 41 times until he died.
When the case proceeded to trial, Amadou's killers were found not guilty.
Now, his mother, Kadiatou, travels around the country to educate her audience about the issue of racial profiling and to raise awareness about the injustice that her family experienced in the courtroom.
Kadiatou's speech, which will begin tonight at 8 p.m. in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom, coincides with Black History Month, a driving force behind UPC bringing Kadiatou to Grounds.
"Besides corresponding with Black History Month, we felt that Kadiatou's speech was important because racial profiling is a hot topic in the country in general," UPC Speakers Committee Chairman David Yott said.
"Also, the University has such a diverse student body that [the topic of] racial profiling might interest students who have been the victim of it or know someone who has," said Yott, a third-year College student.
In addition to the media attention the Diallos' case has received, the American Civil Liberties Union has run an extensive national campaign on the issue of racial profiling, he added.
The graphics of two men, identical except for the color of their skin, seen on UPC fliers advertising tonight's program also are featured on the ACLU's Web site.
Admission to tonight's program is free and will include a 60-minute speech by Kadiatou followed by a 30-minute question and answer session.
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