Students hold candlelit vigil for Mike Brown

More than 100 students turned out to honour the life of Mike Brown as part of a candlelit vigil held by Warwick Anti-Racism Society (WARSoc).

WARSoc hosted a vigil on 26 November to commemorate the lives of Mike Brown and other young black men who have suffered at the hands of the US police.

Mike Brown was shot dead by police in Ferguson, Missouri on 9 August 2014.

Brown was aged 18 when he was killed and his death has since provoked an uproar of support and activism for the cause of young black men who have suffered a similar fate.

Students gathered on the Piazza, where tea lights were laid down on the ground spelling ‘R.I.P. Brown’.

Teju Soyinka, African-Caribbean Society president, Abi Awojobi, a fourth-year PAIS student and WARSoc treasurer Reuben Petgrave, all gave speeches paying respects to Brown and calling on communities across the world to stand together against police racism and brutality.

The speeches were then followed by a moment of silence.

Adeorike Oshinyemi, a second-year Comparative American Studies undergraduate, told the Boar: “The vigil was incredibly moving – in particular WARSoc treasurer Rueben’s call for young men of all races to unite against police brutality.”

Students held up signs of support, displaying messages such as ‘Justice for Mike Brown’ and ‘Black lives matter’.

Maahwish Mirza, Warwick Students’ Union education officer, commented: ”The vigil went extremely well and allowed for a moment of reflection on the Ferguson tragedy. Over a hundred people turned up to pay their respects, and Warwick students have demonstrated that they do not ignore moments of injustice.”