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Rallying cry brings students together with slogan “We are one, ODU!”

Posted at 6:38 PM, Apr 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-05 18:38:10-04

Norfolk, Va. - “We are one, ODU! We are one, ODU!” This rallying cry rang out on Old Dominion University’s campus, outside the student union center on Tuesday, as students gathered to promote one message.

"We are here to show that we are not scared, and we will unite as one campus,” said Matt Thomas, a student at ODU, and the community outreach chair for the university’s NAACP chapter. “[We will] not let anyone divide us through hateful messages and images."

Students like Thomas were inspired to form a unity rally after Nazi propaganda posters mysteriously showed up on their campus last week.

Max Evans, Junior at ODU - "It made a lot of people upset,” said Max Evans, a junior at ODU who also participated in the rally. “It's morally wrong. Going against a specific group for their race or ethnicity is disgusting."

After the Nazi posters circulated through social media, ODU students decided to turn hatred into something they say is more powerful: unity.  

"ODU is a pillar of the Hampton Roads area, and so you should want the school to...reflect positivity,” said junior Taylor Crawford, who attended Tuesday’s rally.

Students at the rally told NewsChannel 3 this is a message to all of Hampton Roads, and not just those on campus.

Matt Thomas, ODU Student, Community Outreach Chair for NAACP ODU Chapter: "Even if it wasn't on ODU's campus,” Thomas explained, “if it was in Norfolk or Portsmouth, there are so many different groups in the ‘757 area’ that someone needs to speak for those people,

"To [the Nazi] group, you will not divide this campus, and for other groups who many have experienced discrimination, we will stand for you as well."

In the spirit of uniting their campus, ODU is hosting their first Unity Fest on April 21st.

ODU police say they are still looking into who distributed the Nazi posters on campus.