The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/vigil/page/2/)
A vigil for the International Transgender Day of Remembrance memorialized the deaths of transgender individuals through poetry, song and a candle ceremony. The lighting of each candle represented 15 lost lives.
Amidst cold and rain, over 150 Cornellians — some from the Tree of Life Congregation — huddled together Monday evening on Ho Plaza to remember the victims of Saturday’s anti-semitic shooting.
“We will be gathering in the spirit of community and unity to show our commitment to loving and supporting one another against hatred by offering prayers and readings,” according to the event’s Facebook page.
For some students at the vigil, the sudden loss provided a valuable lesson moving forward in their relationships.
The vigil’s organizers — Black Students United, Haven, TANGO and Mosaic — came together “not only mourn, but to begin an ongoing conversation about ways to actively advocate for and support members of our communities affected by these multiple forms of oppression,” said the Facebook page.
“He taught me to not be scared of what people think, and to have confidence in myself,” Pena said. “I am so proud that he was able to touch so many people’s lives.”
Eighteen people — 16 students, one member of the Asian American Society and an Ithaca native — lit candles to honor Kuchibhotla in Anabel Taylor Hall and shared their thoughts and fears regarding the new presidential administration.
“Let us not forget Anthony,” said Sean Eversley Bradwell. “Let us make sure he lives in all of us.”
The vigil — organized by five Cornell students and Brian Patchcoski, the director of Cornell’s LBGTQ+ Resource Center — included an open dialogue where attendees could speak about their reactions to the attack, followed by a performance by the glee club and chorus members.
On May 16, members of the Cornell community including President David Skorton gathered in Sage Chapel for an evening of remembrance honoring those who died in China after a powerful earthquake occurred in the Sichuan province. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that took place on May 12 has since left 51,000 people dead, nearly 300,000 injured and over 29,000 missing. According to the Associated Press, the disaster also left 5 million people homeless and destroyed more than 80 percent of the buildings in some remote towns and villages.