The protest was planned to bring attention to a number of problems at the private, Jesuit university, including administrators’ response to recent reports of vandalism on campus targeting students of color and LGBTQ students, the Climate Justice group’s ongoing push for the university’s complete divestment from fossil fuels and allegations that Leahy mishandled complaints about inappropriate behavior by a priest who worked at the university nearly 23 years ago.
The allegations sparked ongoing calls for Leahy to resign. A petition signed by about 560 students, parents and faculty members demanding his removal as president says that students have lately felt betrayed by Fr. Leahy and Boston College on a number of issues. Climate Justice, which called for Leahy to leave the institution and circulated the petition, intended to amplify that demand at the demonstration.