Northern Hosts All Lives Matter forum open to public, speakers to appear

All Lives Matter, a forum about the causes and consequences of recent police-involved shootings of African-American men throughout the U.S., will take place Monday at 7 p.m in Montana State University-Northern’s Student Union Building Ballroom.

Christina Estrada-Underwood, director of the Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs, said the event is not meant to place blame but spark a peaceful dialogue that can ease tensions and address the issue that has made recent headlines.  

The event is open to the public.

Estrada-Underwood said that Badhasa Margasa, a senior at Northern and member of the Northern Lights basketball team, came to her and said a number of students were interested in discussing the issue.

The percentage of African-American students at Northern is low, Estrada-Underwood said, but added that all groups of students on campus deserve to be heard.

Speakers will include Estrada-Underwood, Margasa and Jack Bieger, a professor of criminal justice at Northern who has a background in law enforcement.

Those in attendance will then have the chance to offer their thoughts and views on the subject.

Estrada-Underwood said she has extended an invitation to the Havre Police Department to speak at the forum. As of Wednesday afternoon, they had not said whether or not they will participate, she said.