Hundreds of Students Mourn Together at Vigil for Breonna Taylor
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The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 VOLUME 142, NO. 4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 WWW.STUDLIFE.COM FOOTBALL LISTEN IN They will not have a Unpacking the fall season, but the lyrics and emotions Bears are getting of internet star back in action Joji’s newest album (Sports, pg 6) (Cadenza, pg 9) ‘Show our Black sisters the respect they College deserve’: Hundreds of students mourn Republicans, Democrats together at vigil for Breonna Taylor work to excite and engage students ahead of November election GRACE KENNARD STAFF REPORTER There is no shortage of politi- cal opportunities this fall, and the College Republicans and Democrats are working diligently to engage students with local and national campaigns. With the November election fast approaching, the College Democrats are planning to focus their efforts on local initiatives. “I think that Trump is more than likely going to win Missouri.” College Democrats President Arik Wolk said, “[So] in Missouri I think that the bigger chance for Democrats to be suc- cessful is at the local level—the Jill Schupp versus Ann Wagner race. I think the governor’s race is going to be pretty competitive [as well].” Missouri’s political leaning has shifted over the years. It used to be known as a bellwether, voting for MORAD SULIMAN | STUDENT LIFE the winning presidential candidate Over three hundred students gathered around the East End steps to mourn Breonna Taylor. Participants wore masks, stayed socially distanced, held signs in all but one election between and lit candles to show solidarity. “The event was such a beautiful reminder of the solidarity that we could have as a campus,” junior Nana Kusi said. 1904 and 2004, but in recent years has taken a turn to the right. The JULIA ROBBINS be mindful of the space they chose six feet apart from each other for upperclassmen to the younger Black shift can likely be attributed to the STAFF REPORTER to take up that night. Students were students to stand behind. After the students at the University. fact that the state’s population no asked to be respectfully quiet, and to organizers of the vigil spoke, students “We wanted to show some of longer parallels the nation’s demo- stay masked and socially distant. walked around to light the candles in the underclassmen who didn’t get graphics. For example, Missouri “One, two, three, four, five, six, “I thought it was really power- commemoration of Taylor’s life. the opportunity to meet a lot of the has a low Hispanic population, seven, eight.” ful, how we got so many people to “I definitely thought that the image upperclassmen on campus… that while nationwide the group has The numbers, symbolizing the show up,” Kina said. “I didn't know itself, with the candles and people there is a strong Black community become the largest minority. number of bullets that police offi- if it was going to be a popular event standing socially distant but definitely on this campus, that there is a unified Missouri now consistently leans cers fired at Breonna Taylor, echoed because this has been so controversial together in a sense, was very power- Black community on this campus,” Republican, with Romney win- against the buildings of the East End these past few months. So just seeing ful,” freshman Kayzad Bharucha Kina said. “And I think that’s some- ning the state by 9.4 percentage during a vigil held Saturday. Taylor’s all this support, for me, was really said. thing that you wouldn’t have had points in 2012 and Trump win- murder at the hands of the officers really eye-opening.” As students stood apart from one otherwise because we’re, for the most ning with an 18.5 point margin has further fueled a nationwide move- Calls to action on both national another, cupping their hands to the part, online.” of victory over Clinton in 2016. ment fighting for justice. and individual levels rang through the candles to prevent the wind from Phelps agreed, noting how diffi- Politico predicts Missouri to be More than three hundred stu- night. blowing them out, the open mic sec- cult it had been for her to get to know a “Solid Republican” state in dents gathered together on the East “It is time to show our Black sisters tion of the night began. Black upperclassmen prior to the the presidential election, partly End steps and grass lining the hill to the respect they deserve,” Sayed said One of the students who spoke vigil. “It definitely felt like they just because of Trump’s previous Brookings, carefully spacing six feet in her speech. “It is time we fight with during this section of the night was weren’t there because of COVID,” commanding win in the state in apart. our sisters and brothers and nonbi- sophomore Aaliyah Allen, the presi- Phelps said. “[But at the vigil] it just 2016. If this prediction rings true “We really wanted this space to be nary family members the same way dent of QUEENS, a Black women’s felt like they put their arms around us, in November, that would mean primarily for students to stake their we would for our blood. Ask yourself affinity space on campus. Allen spoke and it was definitely something that I Missouri’s 10 electoral votes will claim on this campus and make their if any Black woman in your life sees to how the unique oppression of needed.” go to Trump in his race to 270. feelings known,” Junior Nana Kusi, you as her ally, as someone who fights Black women stems from the inter- Some of the themes of the night For the College Republicans, one of the organizers of the vigil, for Black women.” sectionality of their identities. were manifested in the cardboard the less competitive nature of said. “I think on this campus there’s Kusi echoed this sentiment in an “We talk about the loss of Black signs that some students held up, bear- the presidential election this year not many spaces or avenues through interview with Student Life. men at the hands of the police very ing phrases such as “Be the Change,” in Missouri means they can also which I feel particularly represented “Nobody thinks that they’re a rac- often,” Allen said. “Gender dispari- “Protect Black Women” and “What focus more of their energy on the or seen as a Black woman at Wash. ist, and nobody thinks that they’re ties have been a racialized issue in crime did she commit in her sleep?” close House race between Ann U.” discriminatory or prejudiced against America; we talk about white wom- At the end of the night, students were Wagner (R) and Jill Schupp (D). Kusi, senior Sabrina Sayed as well Black women, but many people are,” en’s inability to maintain their home encouraged to bring their posters and Matias Mayesh, president of as juniors Nafi Seife, Rene Kina and Kusi said. “In their actions, abso- life and juggle to climb the ladder of candles to a shrine for Taylor at the the College Republicans, said that Yohanes Mulat organized the vigil to lutely, they exclude and silence Black corporate America. But where does top of the steps. plans are in the works for a phone recognize Taylor and repudiate the women in a variety of spaces and that leave Black women? Where did “I hope what people took away bank before the election, but it’s system that killed her and failed to axes, and I want people to interrogate that leave Breonna?” is that it’s really, really important been a challenge not being able bring her killers to justice. that.” “‘You catch more flies with honey to check on yourself and how you to connect with club members in The ninety minute vigil featured Maya Phelps, a freshman who than vinegar,’ they say,” Allen contin- interact with your Black friends and person. speeches from the organizers of the spoke during the open mic portion of ued. “All while America catches flies friends of other marginalized groups,” “I want us to be involved and event, an open mic and a moment of the night, similarly wanted the vigil with the body of millions of slaugh- Kusi said. “If you don’t have friends be able to go out and do some silence at the end of the night. to encourage people to question their tered Black women since the first of any marginalized identities, why is activities for local campaigns like “For me, it was really impactful to actions. of us was stolen and taken to stolen that?” canvassing, but it’s a bit difficult hear from my peers with very simi- “For people that chose not to land. Well frankly, I don’t give a damn Ultimately, Kusi said she hoped with all the restrictions and we lar experiences as me express their come, I guess I want to question about your feelings anymore. Your that the vigil showcased the power don’t want to break the rules,” he feelings, really be able to be candid, really why,” Phelps told Student Life. feelings over my life, my mother’s and importance of collective commu- said. and put people on the line as to how “What inside of you makes you want life, my sister’s life, my friends’ lives, nity care. “So that's something I’ve been they're treated and how they navigate to ignore the death of Black people, women I haven’t even met—their “The event was such a beautiful trying to organize and trying to these spaces on campus,” Kusi said.