Correction appended.

In response to the events surrounding the Feb. 26 death of Trayvon Martin, MLK and Friends, the Women of Color Alliance, the Men of Color Alliance, the Brandeis Black Student Organization and the Queer People of Color Coalition co-sponsored a series of discussions and vigils last Thursday and Friday.

Martin was shot and killed while walking to his father's girlfriend's home in Sanford, Fla. after leaving a convenience store, according to a topic page on Martin by the New York Times. George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed Martin, said that he shot him in self-defense. Martin was found to have no weapon on him and as of yet, no arrest has been made in the case.

In New York City and Miami, over two thousand people rallied in honor of Martin. Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, joined demonstrators in New York City for the "Million Hoodie March," where participants wore hooded sweatshirts as Martin did when he was killed.

According to a March 30 email from the Division of Students and Enrollment, students were invited to show their support and demand a call for a "thorough investigation" into the death of Martin by wearing sweatshirts with their hoods up all of Friday.

MLK and Friends, WOCA, MOCA and BBSO and QPOCC hosted a discussion and vigil last Thursday night. It opened with recordings of the 911 calls made to police during the incident and the organizers gave background on the events that took place when Martin was killed. The audience then broke up into smaller groups to discuss both the events and their reactions to the case. The audience then regrouped to reflect as one large group.

The discussion was followed by a candlelight vigil in the Great Lawn. About 50 participants stood in a circle and held a moment of silence for Martin. Some members of the group lit their candles in honor of Martin himself or to "hope," while others dedicated their candles to loved ones who were victims of violence, or to other attendees who came to support their cause.

On Friday, University President Frederick Lawrence led another vigil, which was followed by a march to the Louis Brandeis Statue. All participants and the statue were dressed in hooded sweatshirts in honor of Martin.

In an interview with the Justice, Vice President of MLK and Friends Amanda Dryer '13 said that she had asked Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams for permission to dress the statue.

Attendees chanted "I am not the enemy," and Adams emphasized the importance of dialogue on issues such as racial profiling and stereotyping.

Adams, who wore a light gray Brandeis hoodie, then recited a poem he wrote titled "Social Justice."

"When every child is divine, Emmett Till," said Adams in his poem. "And wearing a hoodie doesn't put cross hairs on my spine."

Emmitt Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in 1955 at the age of 14 after speaking to a white woman.

After Adams' poem, students were encouraged to continue their discussion in the Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room.

In an interview with the Justice, Adams said that it was "important" for the community to come together.

"The whole movement was wonderful to see happen especially coming from Brandeis," said Adams. "It was an honor to be a part of it."

Lawrence also said that the event was important in an interview with the Justice. "We have to react as a community to this kind of injustice. ... We have a lot of students here who are really hurting."

In an interview with the Justice, WOCA member Tori Dobson '15 said that the event "touched everybody."

"I think it changed a lot of our opinions about the way we see each other," she said.

"Hopefully, eventually through protest and dialogue and conversations, justice and peace will prevail," Rebekah Lafontant '12. "Brandeis is a place where you can have your voice heard and have these types of dialogues in a safe space."

-Tate Herbert contributed reporting. 

Correction: Tori Dobson '15 is a member of WOCA, not its Vice President.