NAACP Chapter holds candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols in Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG, Va (WSET) — As the country continues to struggle with the death of Tyre Nichols, the University of Lynchburg's NAACP Chapter held a candlelight vigil Thursday night to honor his life.

NAACP Chapter president Marques Armstrong said he and the other members felt led to honor Nichols' life and the lives of others impacted by police brutality.

"We come together as a unity and as one to celebrate one life, but not only one life", Armstrong said. "We came to honor each individual that was taken by police brutality; not just Tyre Nichols but others like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Daunte Wright."

Seymone Simmons, a local poet and University of Lynchburg student, recited a spoken word reminding everyone to never forget the names of the victims of police brutality.

"We yell saying black lives matter but did Tyre Nichols matter when his own brothers put him down?" Simmons said. "A mom losing her child. Say their names, Floyd, Wright, Rose."

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Doctor Sterling Wilder, a Lynchburg City Councilman, spoke to the students and concerned citizens as well.

Wilder said communities need to start loving each more.

"No matter how much hatred we see, no matter how much brutality we see, we as people that know love have to continue to show love", Wilder said. "We must continue to promote love and show love even more than ever. When we push hate out, we need to show love even stronger."

Once the speeches were completed, Marques Armstrong lead the entire group in singing 'Lean on Me.'

The NAACP Chapter also collected donations for the Tyre Nichols Memorial Fund to send to his family in their time of need.