The Student Affairs Office of Campus Community Engagement is holding a candlelit vigil in memory of Breonna Taylor tomorrow, September 17th. Breonna Taylor was a Louisville resident who was shot and killed while asleep in her own home by police officers during an unexpected raid in the middle of the night on March 13. Many protests have taken place in Louisville since March to defend her life as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement in which students have participated in. As part of a series of campus events, Bellarmine wants to recognize those who are activists in social justice and share their support.
The event will start at 7:30 p.m. and take place in the Quad. The Center for Community Engagement will be helping students create posters and banners until set speaker, Kenna Mink, will present at 8:30 p.m. Mink is a sophomore at Bellarmine and an activist in Black Lives Matter. She has traveled to different states to protest in defense of Breonna Taylor. Mink grew up with Taylor and her family. Breonna Taylor’s younger sister, Ju’Niyah Palmer, will also be attending the event.
Student Government Association officers Kelze’ Riley, Vice President for Community Engagement, and Trey Grevious, President, oversaw planning the vigil. Grevious feels Bellarmine does a good job with supporting social justice but could be better about allowing students to be more involved. “I’m happy Bellarmine is having this platform… they are creating more events for students to have a voice,” Grevious said.
“The school is trying to support and moving forward,” Riley added. She believes this event is a “big steppingstone” to push for more activism for social justice.
SGA advisor Helen-Grace Ryan was a “great resource,” according to Riley. Ryan helped get the information and sources needed for the event.
“My hope is that the student-led vigil will provide a space to reflect upon and continue to process the meaning and impact of Breonna Taylor’s life and death. Opportunities like these, that carve out space and time to consider our interconnectedness and honor the sanctity of life, are central to our mission. I hope campus community members leave the vigil continuing to consider constructive ways to further promote social justice and end systematic racism,” said Ryan.