Hundreds of students, both black and white, marched together on campus Thursday for racial equality.

The arrest of six black teenagers in Jena, La., which many speculate to be racially motived, sparked a response both across the nation and on NIU’s own campus.

Members of several student organizations including the NAACP, the Center for Black Studies, the Black Student Union, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the head organization over black Greek life, organized a campus-wide rally to show their support for the teenagers in Louisiana.

The rally, which began at 6 p.m. on Thursday, attracted hundreds of students to Stevenson North, the starting point of the march.

“This isn’t just a black and white thing, it’s a human thing,” said senior finance major Rachel Purches, who also acted as one of the event’s coordinators.

The students, many of whom wore all black to represent their opposition to the treatment of the black students in Louisiana, said the arrest in Jena was a shock because, they believed, racial relations seemed to be changing throughout the nation.

“It’s horrible that this is happening in 2007,” said Kris Williams, a first-year graduate student in black studies.

Although blacks made up the majority of the students marching, other students of diverse backgrounds did participate in the rally.

“I think [the arrest in Louisiana] is just plain wrong,” said junior English major Bridget Fagan, who is white. “It doesn’t matter what skin color a person has; this is wrong.”

Many of the black students at the rally agreed with Fagan’s sentiments.

“It’s great to see different types of people here,” said Anquineice McDaniel, a junior biological sciences major.

There were marchers pounding on drums and shouting “No peace, no justice” as the large group of students crossed Annie Glidden Road and Lucinda Avenue.

Many students said the turnout of about 200 students was significantly higher than expected.

“The turnout here is great; it’s great to see this many people,” said senior communication major Regi Brown. As the march came to an end, students gathered at the Center for Black Studies, and many discussed their views on modern racism.

“Racism is still alive, and we have to stand up when it happens,” said Marcus Smith, a sophomore industrial engineering major.

Some professors marched along with students.

“It’s great to see students involved in a good cause like this,” said Derrick Smith, an NIU instructor of black studies. After the rally, some students remained disappointed with current racial relations throughout the nation.

“Racism is long from over in this county,” said health education major Alana Tinsley.