More than 100 students gathered at Tate Plaza at 7 p.m. Thursday to make a collective stance on the Jena Six.

The Jena Six, the name given to six black students in Jena, La. who initially were charged with attempted murder for beating a white peer in December 2006, have sparked citizens across the country to protest and students across campus to discussion.

“It’s 2007. It all seems backwards,” said Francis Onukwuli, a junior from Jonesboro. “Hate just breeds more hate, and I feel bad for those who have prejudice.”

The event, spread by word-of-mouth and Facebook, was created when students talked about current issues at Memorial Hall last week. Students across the country wore black Thursday, and reports say between 20,000 and 50,000 people traveled to Jena to protest.

“Because of the blackout happening today, we decided to do something to show our support, even if we aren’t in Louisiana,” said Ambre Reed, who is a part of the campus NAACP chapter.

Students gathered to share their views and sign a petition that will be sent to representatives in Georgia and Louisiana.

“I can’t believe … we’re just now hearing about it,” said Tre Wright, a junior from Fayetteville. “I didn’t know about that kind of racial separation in 2007.”

For some of the students who came, knowledge and truth are still elusive.

“I just want to be updated,” said Gerald Durden, a junior from College Park. “There have been so many different points of view, and I want to educate myself.”

Students such as Durden said they have been reading about the trials and protests online.

“Look how word-of-mouth and Facebook have gotten us here,” said Marie-Christelle Tshinanga, a senior from Atlanta. “We need to take advantage of our resources and use technology to change the world in smaller ways.”

Yasmin Yonis, a freshman in the Black Affairs Council, closed the gathering.

“Don’t read about a situation like this, click off Facebook and go watch MTV,” she said. “Today, you made a difference.”