Last Wednesday, four groups co-sponsored a discussion about racial awareness in American society in reaction to recent controversial police shootings of unarmed African Americans.  

This is not the first discussion and as recent events indicate a local movement is brewing. 

"He got to spend Easter with his family.  While my sister laid six feet in the ground," said Martinez Sutton. Sutton is the brother of Rekia Boyd. She was shot and killed last month unarmed by an off duty detective.

About 50 students came to the panel that included the cousin of Emmett Till. Till was slain almost 60 years ago because of his race.

A local organizer said college campuses are the ideal place for these discussions because they reflect the bigger picture.

“Really we just see microcosms of activity on college campuses,” said Brit Schulte. “So we want to let them know, say we need your help, we need your support.  We need to get college campuses activated around these fights and you know here's this information, here are these people's stories.  What are you going to do next?"

Schulte’s plant is to start a movement. She is an organizer from Occupy Chicago and while they did not sponsor this event, she came to connect with NU groups who share her passion for justice.

"We want people to actually feel their power. We want people to feel that they can actually make a change. We have to keep this stuff in people's minds.  People need to know Rekia Boyd's name and people need to continue to say Trayvon Martin out loud, so we can keep this momentum up," said Schulte.

Sutton says until he gets justice for his sister, he will continue to organize and talk. 

“Anything comes up and I'm invited to come out, I'm here. No matter how far. I'm here,” said Sutton.