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LINCOLN — About 400 voices joined together Thursday in front of the Nebraska Union to declare that “black lives matter.”

The crowd listened, cheered and chanted with speakers who discussed racism in and out of the classroom and said it’s time for change.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln rally comes in light of recent events in Missouri, where the university president resigned amid student complaints about how people of color were treated. Anti-racism events also have been held on other campuses, including a gathering Monday at Creighton University.

Maya Evans, president of UNL’s Afrikan People’s Union, told the crowd Thursday that she doesn’t feel safe on the University of Nebraska campus, largely because of racist posts on Yik Yak, a social media app that allows users to post anonymously, and students who use the N-word.

She asked that people listen to her concerns, rather than tell her to stop whining.

“If I offended anyone (today), I’m not sorry. I’ve been offended too many times on campus and have never heard an apology,” Evans said to cheers and applause.

It’s important to listen to what people of color say, said Trevor Obermueller, the UNL student who came up with the idea for the rally.