Rapper Gucci Mane recently took a stand with Howard University students and had his artists not perform after students complained about unlivable housing conditions.
According to WTOP News, the HBCU drew attention last week after students came together in protest of the “unlivable” conditions that students have had to endure.
Gucci’s 1017 label artists Big Scarr, HotBoyWes, and Bic Fizzle were set to perform for Howard’s homecoming week festivities. However, Gucci decided to switch it up and have his artists join with the student protesters in getting the university’s attention after they’ve allowed for mold, rats, and roaches to infest campus dorm rooms.
Stand for change! Despite their recent release of ‘So Icy Boyz’ Gucci Mane’s artists Hot Boy Wes, Big Scarr, Bic Fizzle are standing with the students of DC’s Howard University to protest the campuses poor housing conditions!! 😩 #ProgressiveAF #1017 #GucciMane #HotBoyWes pic.twitter.com/5UJnbtVQUK
— The Progress Report Media Group (@TPRMediaGroup) October 17, 2021
Related Story: Gucci Mane And Keyshia Ka’oir Reveal Baby So
The Progress Report Media Group shared a video of the artists gathered with students in support of their protests captioned, “Despite their recent release of ‘So Icy Boyz’ Gucci Mane’s artists Hot Boy Wes, Big Scarr, Bic Fizzle are standing with the students of DC’s Howard University to protest the campuses poor housing conditions!!”
The protest began on October 12 when students in the Live Movement coalition decided to protest in the form of a sit-in outside of Howard’s Blackburn University Center, which extended until the next day.
Students are asking the school’s officials to host a town hall meeting with the student body but instead were confronted with force by campus police.
On October 16, Howard’s Board of Trustees released a statement telling the student protestors that their voices were heard.
“Simply put, we hear you, and we continue to welcome your viewpoints on all matters pertaining to Howard,” the board said. “The goal is to cultivate spaces for us to listen and discuss prominent issues on students’ minds.”
The statement came as a surprise after students had been brushed off and threatened earlier that week. Protesters were warned that they could face the consequences, including expulsion, if they continued to block the Blackburn University Center.
The board also mentioned that it would offer previously elected student affiliate trustees, who could not be seated due to the pandemic, an opportunity to serve a one-year term as full trustees.
The Hilltop HU Instagram shared the response of student protesters who directed their comments to the board statement, saying that although they appreciate the reinstatement of those members, they’d like an opportunity for all students’ concerns to be heard.
View this post on Instagram
They also said that the board failed to provide a timeline for improved living conditions on campus.
