Student organizations held a vigil last Monday for Demartravion “Trey” Reed on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus.
The vigil was held by the Sultry Xi Nu Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and the GVSU Progressive Student Union (PSU). Reed was a 21-year-old college student at Delta State University in Mississippi, whose body was found hanging from a tree this month. A state medical examiner concluded his death was a suicide, but Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy, and his death has raised concern among many that he may have been lynched.
Many students and community members in attendance were dressed in black as a sign of respect. Pictures of Reed were held, alongside signs calling for justice and peace. The vigil gave space for members of the campus community to speak about their own experiences with racial discrimination. Members of You Beautiful Black Woman, the Black Excellence program and Black Leaders Aspiring for Critical Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) were present for the vigil and spoke to those gathered. Attendees emphasized the importance of community, especially among student organizations, while calling for justice…