Several student organizations on campus will host a candlelight vigil at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, on Marshall University’s Huntington campus to bring the community together regarding social injustices.
Derek Rankin, president of Alpha Phi Alpha, said awareness is important because cases flee the public’s memory after a few days.
“This is basically the space in the interim in which we stay aware of what’s going on in the community,” Rankin said. “This is a topic that is very delicate; therefore, we always push it to the side and just avoid it. It’s finally bringing up the conversation of what goes on outside of this campus and what goes on around this community and this nation, essentially.”
Dr. Cedric Gathings, vice president for student affairs at Marshall, said the university community “supports every student and/or student organization’s right to express their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in a peaceful and respectful manner.”
“My message to students is that, despite all the things that are going on, as long as we stick together, we can overcome it,” Rankin said. “At the end of the day, no matter what, if we have a problem, we can address the problem and get the problem solved by a safe, nonviolent, effective means.”
“I know that there are great police out there, but I know there are bad ones, and I don’t want the bad ones to influence the great ones or I don’t want the great ones to be afraid to confront the bad ones,” Rankin said.
“I want people like me to be able to go outside and drive down the street and not be scared that this will be the last time I ever get pulled over.”