Tomorrow night at the Alma Mater, Alpha Phi Alpha will be hosting a vigil to raise awareness of the death of Trayvon Martin. The event is set to begin at 9 p.m.
Martin was a 17-year-old high school student who was killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla. Police did not find enough evidence to arrest Zimmerman, who claimed the killing was in self-defense.
Martin was wearing a black hoodie at the time of the killing, and tomorrow night’s participants are encouraged to wear black hoodies in solidarity.
The event will begin with a lap around the quad. There will then be a spoken word piece followed by a student address. Dr. William Patterson, a professor from the African American Cultural Center, will be the keynote speaker, and the event will close with a prayer.
“The most important message that we want people to take away is that this is happening around America,” said Bryan Thomas, one of the vigil’s organizers. “We want people to sign the petition to raise awareness [for Martin].”
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Thomas hopes the community can unite at this devastating time.
“Together, we can show that this issue will not be silenced,” Thomas said.
Read more in Thursday’s issue