Students will stand together today to break down the labels society has placed on them.

At 1 p.m., students wearing white T-shirts will gather at Risman Plaza to partake in the “Stand for Peace and Equal Rights.”

Freshman pre-journalism major Robert Checkal said he organized the event because of all the hatred he’s seen in society in regards to race and sexuality – particularly because of protests from the Westboro Baptist Church and comments on KentNewsNet.com regarding the column “I am not a White Bitch.”

“This isn’t over,” he said. “We need to do something about it. This is my way of doing something about it.”

Checkal asked everyone attending to wear white, with a label that society has given them pinned to their shirts. These labels can be about the student’s sexuality, race or simply being a “college student.” He said he plans to give a short speech, and at the end of it, everyone will tear off their labels.

“We’re all going to be standing there in a white T-shirt,” he said, “to show we’re all equal and we’re all the same.”

Checkal said anyone who feels the same way should participate in the stand.

Contact minority affairs reporter Christina Stavale at [email protected].