DeKALB — SGA President Antonio Johnson and Speaker of the Senate Brad Beyer announced their support for the peaceful protests taking place in DeKalb in a statement sent to the Northern Star Tuesday. 

Since Saturday, DeKalb community members have participated in several peaceful protests against police brutality in response to George Floyd’s death. Protests have also taken place around the country and world. 

Floyd died while in police custody May 25 in Minneapolis after former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes. As of Wednesday, Chauvin and three other police officers at the scene have been arrested. 

“Racism has no place in our nation, let alone on college campuses,” the statement said. “We feel this is an opportunity to show the world why Huskies never quit and why NIU is dedicated to supporting diversity.”

SGA oversees hundreds of student organizations on campus, and prioritizes the representation of all students, the statement said. 

Johnson also posted a personal statement Tuesday regarding racial injustice on SGA’s Facebook page. 

“Please note, I cannot and will not ignore the fact that I am an African American student,” Johnson said in his Tuesday Facebook post. “I will continue to fight against racial injustice and inequity until there is change.”