The Muslim-cultural Student Association organized a vigil with over 100 students at the Rock in memory of the three members of the Muslim community killed in their home near University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
After hearing from the speakers, students were invited to share their own feelings on the shootings and its effect on their own lives and the Muslim community.
Students listened in somber silence to speakers, who talked about the victims.
The Rock was painted to inform students of Discover Islam Week, which took place from Feb. 4 to Feb. 12.
Students lit candles in honor of Razan Abu-Salha, 19, and newlyweds Deah Barakat, 23 and Yusor Abu-Salha, 21.
Photos by Devon Levy / North by Northwestern
On Tuesday night, just after 5 p.m., three young Muslims, Deah Barakat, 23, Yusor Abu-Salha, 21 and Razan Abu-Salha, 19, were murdered in their apartment not far from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. The local police have reported that the killings were in response to “an ongoing parking dispute between neighbors” while many people are arguing that it was hate crime, and the hashtag #muslimlivesmatter quickly gained popularity on social media.
In honor of the victims, the Muslim-cultural Students Association held a vigil Wednesday night at the Rock. Students and members of the Evanston community lit candles, listened to testimonies from students speakers and invited guests who knew the victims. Students were also invited to share their own feelings about the killings and about their own experiences battling religious intolerance.