LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — On the morning of August 15, University of Kentucky senior Khari Gardner placed four banners across campus, each one recounting student's stories of racism on campus.
But within hours they were all taken down.
"I did feel somewhat like the university was trying to silence us by taking them down so quickly but at the same time I did expect them to come down at some point during the day," said Gardner. "But I'm glad they were up, at least one person would read them that's all that matters."
Gardner says he didn't hear anything else about the signs until almost two weeks later on Friday, August 28 when he received a letter from the university that said he violated the universities events signage policy and would have to report for a conduct meeting on Wednesday, September 2.
"I'm not scared and I know the students I'm working with aren't scared and it's clear this is something they are using to retaliate against us but I'm not stopping anytime soon," said Gardner.
LEX 18 also reached out to UK spokesperson Jay Blanton about the incident who says, "There has been no change in the student's status that he is aware of... And in general, violating the campus signage policy is not something that would be characterized as a major infraction"
Gardner says he will accept any punishment he gets but whatever happens, it will not stop him from speaking out against racial inequality again in the future.
"I just want to make it clear that they might throw the book at me but at the same time I did it and this is something that needs to happen the stories need to be told so I made my bed I'm going to lay in it," said Gardner.
