The Virginia Tech chapter of Help Save The Next Girl held a candlelight vigil to honor of second-year College student Hannah Graham Wednesday night. The vigil featured speeches from Erica Grant, president of Help Save The Next Girl, and Faculty Advisor Jane Vance.
Virginia Tech student Elizabeth Lazor, president of the Student Government Association at Virginia Tech, said the Student Government Association and Virginia Tech community wanted to show its support for Graham.
“[We're] deeply saddened by the disappearance of Hannah, our thoughts are with her family and friends, the U.Va. community, and all those touched by this tragedy,” Lazor said in an email.
Help Save The Next Girl is a non-profit organization founded in remembrance of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, who disappeared after coming to Charlottesville for a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena in 2009. Harrington’s body was found three months later in the remote field of a farm outside Charlottesville. Virginia police have said Harrington’s case is forensically linked to Graham's disappearance.
The event took place on Virginia Tech’s Drillfield. Between 750 and 1000 people were expected to attend.
Vance said Graham’s story particularly resonates with the Virginia Tech community.
“We empathize, but given that Morgan and Hannah are yoked by forensic commonalities, we are more than devastated,” Vance said. “We are crushed that our brothers and sisters at U.Va. are suffering.”
Grant said that Help Save The Next Girl intends to honor Graham’s memory even after the vigil.
“She will live on through Help Save The Next Girl as an example of why should we look out for each other and fight complacency,” Grant said.
Both Grant and Vance noted their solidarity with the University community.
“We are [rivals], but it’s a friendly rivalry, and friends look out for friends,” Grant said. “We are all Cavaliers tonight. It’s our turn to be Cavaliers. We’re one community.”
“We want our voice to rumble down the mountains and reach you, so that you know that we are standing with you,” Vance said.
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