Knitivism members knitted inside the HUB-Robeson Center on Monday, bringing attention to the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Uganda.
In addition to knitting, the group also offered thank you cards for students to sign, which will be sent to supporters of LGBT rights in Uganda.
The East Africa nation's legislature recently proposed a bill that would make LGBT people and their supporters, as well as anyone who tests positive for HIV, subject to life imprisonment or even death.
Despite human rights groups' calls for Western nations to withhold aid from Uganda, legislators plan to begin talks on passing the bill by March, according to CNN.
Some people stopping by the HUB said Knitivism's work is inspiring.
Michelle Quiter, a faculty member in the Intensive English Communication Program, spoke with several Knitivism members and said she wants to become involved in the group. She particularly admires the knitting aspect of the organization.
"It combines activism with tangible product, and it unites the minds of the people in the room," she said.
But others said knitting isn't enough.
Jessica Southgate said she has mixed feelings on the effectiveness of knitting as a medium for raising awareness but still admires the group's efforts.
"I think there's ways it could be more effective, but I think they're putting the message out," Southgate (junior-economics) said.
Monday's event was the group's first "knit-in" for the cause, but not its first for human rights.
Knitivism co-founder Sarah O'Donald described Knitivism as an "artistic form of activism."
O'Donald (senior-human development and family studies) said the club has been working alongside organizations such as Amnesty International and the Progressive Student Alliance for the past three years in hopes of raising awareness for human and women's rights in a variety of causes.
The group most recently raised money for Haiti and plans on promoting Women's History Month in March.
