In 2015, Black students across the United States began a series of demonstrations about injustices experienced on their campuses. Spurred by multiple racist incidents and subsequent protests at the University of Missouri and Yale University, as well as protests by students in South Africa, Emory students demonstrated in solidarity. Local events at Emory in recent years added to rising discontent.

In 2012, Emory announced the discontinuation of some academic programs and departments.

To justify the cuts as a necessary compromise, a statement from President Wagner invoked to the Three-Fifths Compromise as “pragmatic half-victory.” Given that the compromise enshrined slavery in the United State Constitution, considerable backlash from this allusion followed.

As a result of these and other local and national events, a series of demands were made of the administration by the Black Students of Emory University.