Thursday night, members of Texas Tech and the Lubbock community had a chance to pause and remember those killed June 17 in a shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
Organizers said the event was to offer people a chance to honor and remember those killed, as well as give them an opportunity to write down thoughts and prayers that will be sent to Charleston.
Quentin Hodges attended, and said he lived in Clemson, SC for a number of years, and still has family there.
“It’s a little close to home, and I grew up in church, and this could have happened to my family, and I’m here, so it’s great to be able to share feelings and thoughts,” Hodges said.
Marisa Escobedo was also at the vigil. “God bless them, and just to know that we are praying for them, and their families and it’s difficult at times like this, and to know that even though we’re so far away, we’re thinking of them.”
Ricky Sherfield was one of the organizers, and said he would like to see a conversation to begin and continue beyond Thursday’s event.
“There’s been a lot of shock, disbelief, hurt, pain, and so one of the biggest things we’ve been trying to do is creating a dialogue, a space, having these safe zones, where individuals and these students feel comfortable enough, you know, talking about these different things, not holding them in,” Sherfield said.