'Riders' march on campus

The setting 42 years ago -- a freedom march in the blistering heat in Alabama. The setting Thursday night -- a wind chill below zero on IU's campus. The causes in both were similar; to fight for equality and civil rights.\nThe IU "Freedom Riders" Civil Rights re-enactment Thursday evening commemorated the marches in the early 1960s protesting segregation laws and racial inequality.\nBefore the march began outside of the Collins Living-Learning Center, the Freedom Riders gathered inside Collins, distributing picket signs and prepping for the event.\n"We're going to take it to the streets!" said senior Brandi Vardiman, who organized the march. "For those taking picket signs, you've got to be aggressive out there!"\nStudents were bundled up in wool hats, fleece scarves and puffy winter coats, and although the wind chill was negative 7 degrees, it didn't freeze the spirit of the marchers.\nAbout 25 students gathered for the initial pep rally before the march began, and were enthusiastic about the event despite the chilly temperature.\n"I've always had a passion for supporting civil rights," said sophomore Alissa Brown. "But the more I learn about it, the more I want to get involved. This should be really fun."\nIt was time for the protesters to take on the IU campus.\n"Are you guys ready?" Vardiman said through her loudspeaker. The marchers answered her call with cheers and began singing as the group took the streets with their signs reading "Let There be Peace," and "We Want Equal Rights."\nDrivers passing by on Woodlawn Avenue turned to see what the commotion was and some even honked. The group proceeded to hop onto a Bloomington Transit bus as they continued singing "We Shall Overcome."\nNext stop was the Main Library, where a few students waiting for the bus joined the march. Senior Kristin Nesbitt stood beneath the stairs as she impersonated opera singer Marian Anderson and performed an emotional tune from the Civil Rights era.\nAs Nesbitt sang, her crystallized breath formed a trail in the bitter cold air.\nBefore the freedom march continued, junior Christina Clark acted as former first lady and activist Eleanor Roosevelt. Clark, who was snug in a cream colored trench coat, spoke about Roosevelt's accomplishments as an advocate for women's and racial equality.\nBefore the march began, Clark explained how the cold weather was actually a small price to pay when comparing the re-enactment to the actual marches in the South.\n"In 1961, not only did the marchers have to brave the heat, but there was so much more aggression," Clark said. "There were police holding them back with fire hoses and all we have to deal with is a wind chill."\nAfter the stop at the library, the group crossed Jordan Avenue as their shoes crunched in the snow toward the Wright Food Court. Vardiman led the group in a harmonious version of "Oh Freedom" as students locked arms as others waved their colorful signs up and down.\nAs the Freedom Riders gathered in the center of the food court, students put down their eating utensils and listened. Vardiman proceeded to stand on a chair as she urged the students to join the group and celebrate equality.\n"We haven't lost our minds, we're not crazy," Vardiman shouted. "We are here marching in the memory of Martin Luther King and all of the activists of that time. We hope you will join in the cause beyond just Jan. 20!"\nSophomore Sam Frymer interrupted his pizza dinner to listen to the Freedom Riders speak.\n"I think it's really cool what they're doing," Frymer said. "It's great how they are showing their support for King and his cause."\nAs the group picked up a few more participants, they made the short journey to Teter Quad as they wrapped up the march with a few last inspiring words. Junior Redgina Norris, dressed as Coretta Scott King, spoke to the crowd about her "role" as an activist in her life with Dr. King.\nVardiman then inspired the fellow Freedom Riders with a message they can take with them forever.\n"It is refreshing to know that Dr. King's ideas have not been eroded with the sands of time," she said. "Instead they have been carved in the tree of knowledge hoping not to be blown away by windstorms that have manifested over the years.\n"I believe King was calling us to a higher moral obligation," she added. "We must continue his dream, with an agenda for change and we must be willing to sacrifice our privileges for the social welfare of others"