Students at colleges and high schools across the country walked out of class at 1:01 p.m. Monday as a symbolic gesture to show their support of Michael Brown, marking the time the unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a white Ferguson, Missouri, police officer back in August.
At Boston University, names were read aloud of other minorities allegedly killed in similar situations.
"I've been to Ferguson several times since August, and it's just wonderful for me to come back to the university and to see what our students are doing," said Boston University School of Theology Associate Dean Dr. Pamela Lightsey.
Students from Harvard University and Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School joined forces to create a peaceful protest in Harvard Square.
"We met up with some of the Harvard students that protested and we actually shut down Mass. Ave. for 20 minutes and laid down in support of the victims that have lost their lives," said Cambridge Rindge and Latin student Robert Favreau.
But some people, like tour guide Vince Dixson, were not pleased with the disruption.
"I understand people have the right to peaceably redress grievances - absolutely - and maybe even be on the sidewalk," said Dixson. "But to actually shut down traffic and disrupt business, misses, I think, part of the whole idea of peaceable redress of grievances."
Massachusetts
The latest news from around the state
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who is in Washington along with about 80 other mayors meeting with President Obama, says at some point, there needs to be a shift from protests to conversations.
"I think it's important," said Walsh. "I think those protests are forcing a discussion that's probably long overdue."
