Amanda Bates, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts, carries a sign displaying, "Discrimination is Un-American" at the Freedom Rally Tuesday between the Recitation building and the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall.

Editor's Note: For more images from Tuesday's rally, click here .

About 200 students and community members rallied Tuesday afternoon beneath umbrellas and picket signs in a display of unity in the wake of recent acts of perceived discrimination.

The rally addressed issues such as the Homecoming Weekend defacement of a window decorated by members of the Queer Student Union and a Nov. 2 disturbance in which employees of Triple XXX restaurant asked a group of black patrons to leave after an altercation, leading to accusations of discrimination against both the restaurant and the West Lafayette Police Department.

The rally occurred around the base of the tree near Class of 1950 Lecture Hall, a tree that only a week before was painted with an image of male genitalia and a derogatory remark about president-elect Barack Obama.

Although Purdue employees painted over the message by approximately 8:30 a.m. that day, the damage was already done.

"The very same moment we were pouring out into the streets of Chicago and Lafayette, we were reminded that there is unfinished work to do," Bill Mullen, director of American studies in the department of English, told the crowd. "Today is a day to do two things: Celebrate what has been done and talk about what needs to be done."

Clemesia Beverly, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts, said it was great to see so much diversity in the crowd.

"It shows that even though some are still ignorant, we can still make a change," Beverly said. "I'm excited. It took so long to get here, why go back?"

Purdue graduate Aliya Rahman told those at the rally that the steps the University has taken to address these issues are not enough. She singled out the letter released by Purdue President France Córdova, who is in China, condemning the offensive graffiti.

"To president Córdova I would like to say that, unfortunately, silencing issues of systemic homophobia and racism is another one of our long traditions at Purdue University, and I hope this one we can change."

Purdue spokeswoman Jeanne Norberg, also in attendance, defended Córdova, saying, "I'd like to point out that it was our president who was one of the first who stepped up and said the University and all of us should be outraged by what happened."

"In this particular rally, I think it was also very encouraging to see people of all races coming here to support the concept and ideas and celebrate the victory of diversity," Norberg said, "and also to address the fact that we have further to go."

Also in attendance were Purdue dean of students Tony Hawkins, executive associate dean of students Steve Akers and associate dean of students Pablo Malavenda.

Another rally has been planned for 3 p.m. Saturday at the tree next to the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall, and a second meeting is planned for 5 p.m. Sunday in Room 1105 of Lilly Hall of Life Sciences.

For video footage of Tuesday's rally, visit the Exponent's Web site at www.purdueexponent.org.

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