Students Gather to Mourn Kenyan Victims

Laurie KenneyApril 16, 20154min
stu_atv_20150410_0026

On April 9, more than 200 students gathered at Olin Library for a vigil to remember the 147 people—most of them students—killed in the massacre at Garissa University College in Kenya earlier this month. Speakers at the vigil included Arnelle Williams ’17, Giselle Torres ’16, Claudia Kahindi ’18, Geofrey Yatich ’17, Ismael Coleman ’15, Nyanen Deng ’17, Alexandria Williams ’15, and Irvine Peck’s-Agaya ’18.

The vigil was organized to remember those who lost their lives, to raise awareness on campus about issues that happen internationally, to challenge the idea that some news is considered more worthy than others, and to engage the idea that Black Lives Matter--and all lives matter--not only in the U.S., but around the world. Arnelle Williams '17 speaks to the vigil crowd.
The vigil was organized to remember those who lost their lives, to raise awareness on campus about issues that happen internationally, to challenge the idea that some news is considered more worthy than others, and to engage the idea that Black Lives Matter–and all lives matter–not only in the U.S., but around the world. Arnelle Williams ’17 speaks to the vigil crowd.
Geofrey Yatich '17 addresses the crowd from a podium showing just a handful of the many people killed at Garissa University College in Kenya.
Geofrey Yatich ’17 addresses the crowd from a podium showing just a handful of the many people killed at Garissa University College in Kenya.

More than 200 members of the Wesleyan community gathered to remember and mourn the 147 people killed in the attack.
More than 200 members of the Wesleyan community gathered at Olin Library for the vigil.
Claudia Kahindi '18
Claudia Kahindi ’18 speaks to those who gathered to mourn and to remember those who lost their lives in the massacre.
Nyanen Deng '17 and Alexandria Williams '15
Vigil organizers hope the event serves as a reminder that each person killed was more than just a number. Nyanen Deng ’17 and Alexandria Williams ’15 speak to the crowd.
stu_atv_20150410_0018
The vigil provided a place for students to share their grief and show their support.