The 2016 presidential election is frustrating for millions of Americans who do not see their interests represented at the ballot box. As a student exercising my right to vote in my first presidential election, I share the sentiment. All too often in this election, complex issues are avoided, and debate between the candidates from the two major parties is isolated to a few, select topics. However, some of the issues that are avoided are essential for students across the nation. The second debate is taking place on my college campus, Washington University in St. Louis, and I cannot passively watch while the candidates ignore the concerns of Americans. Action must be taken.

The presidential candidates have overlooked and deliberately ignored the issues that impact marginalized communities both domestically and internationally. A coalition of students at Washington University has united, and we are calling ourselves the Liberation Collective. The Liberation Collective believes that we, as a nation, can no longer ignore the struggles of not only black communities suffering from de facto police occupations of neighborhoods, but also the role the United States plays in perpetuating, supporting and participating in global occupations with other imperial powers against communities within the Global South such as Palestine, Kashmir and Syria. We also cannot continue to turn a blind eye to state-sanctioned violence, economic injustice and environmental degradation, causes which are all directly linked. Both sides of the aisle have historically, and especially in this election, failed to address the declining power of unions. Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, fighting for better working conditions for workers and strengthening unions in both the public and private sectors are all causes we value and demand that they be addressed. And finally, we cannot ignore the environmental degradation and destruction that multinational corporations sow as they poison our land and communities with little afterthought to the marginalized communities they prey on and eventually abandon—recently exemplified by the Native American protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. As a result, we cannot work within systems that perpetuate these injustices and must work to stand with and empower grassroots movements outside of these systems.

I am privileged to be at Washington University at a time when a presidential debate will take place on campus. This debate represents a historic moment, not only for the residents who call this city their home, but also the students who belong to the greater St. Louis community. Oct. 9 is more than just a momentous event, however. It is an opportunity, and by virtue of being Wash. U. students, it is our responsibility to make our voices heard.

If asked why I am marching on Oct. 9, I would say that my participation in direct action is key, especially after the events in Tulsa and Charlotte. There is a narrative that students are overwhelmingly disillusioned at the choices presented. While I would agree that I am not excited at the prospects for this election, I reject that narrative. We are not disillusioned; rather we are motivated, now more than ever to make a stand. As a black male living in the United States, I firmly believe we cannot continue with the status quo for another four years with a leader who will not seriously address the fact that the police continue to murder unarmed black individuals with impunity, while victims and survivors of state terrorism have no process for recourse. It is a non-negotiable fact that the lives of millions of black Americans are not valued, and that needs to change.

The Liberation Collective will gather at Washington University and hold its own on-campus rally at 3:30 p.m. to speak out against the candidates’ complicity in systemic oppression and Washington University for appeasing both sides of issues by not making a stand for human rights, such as Black Lives Matter. By maintaining silence on those issues, they inherently perpetuate an oppressive and exploitative system. After our rally, we will march to the larger community gathering that will be held at the parking lot behind the Delmar Loop near Cicero’s at 5 p.m. We march because we demand that the candidates on Oct. 9 talk on issues of substance, not stamina.

Editor’s Note: The time of the on-campus rally has been updated to reflect a change in schedule.