Candle Light Vigil Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Shepherdstown Vigil Organized After Overturn Of Roe V. Wade

Vigils and protests across the state were mobilized by organizations like Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union following Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Vigils and protests across the state were mobilized by organizations like Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union following Friday’s Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

One such vigil was organized in the Eastern Panhandle’s Shepherdstown. This particular event was organized by Emily Baker, a student at Shepherd University and president of the school’s Students for Reproductive Rights organization.

“Just this morning, I had to put it all together, had to find a place,” Baker said. “Since it was so last minute, I was nervous that nobody was going to show up. But luckily, Planned Parenthood sent me all of the supplies and information that I needed. And I just kind of sent out the troops on social media.”

Shepherdstown is right next to the Maryland border, where the right to an abortion is guaranteed by state law. But in West Virginia, the process is likely to be banned, with a century-old law that would make it a felony being unenforced until now. There is some debate as to whether it can be enforced, but Attorney General Patrick Morrissey has said he will deliver an opinion in the coming days. An amendment to the state’s constitution was also approved in 2018 stating that nothing in the document guarantees the right to abortion.

Concerned locals from the region came to the vigil, all with their own reason for attending. That includes Melanie Kozak, a worker at a local domestic violence and rape crisis center.

“Reproductive coercion is real, people force people to have sex without protection, they get pregnant, they can’t leave. It’s just another barrier, limiting my clients’ access to leaving an unhealthy, unsafe relationship,” Kozak said.

Others were concerned for more personal reasons, including Katrina Fernandez, who attended the vigil with her five daughters.

“Anything could happen. And whatever happens should be between my daughter, myself, and my family. And this should be our choice,” Fernandez said. “And I don’t believe anybody, especially the state, government, or anybody else has the right to tell me or them what we need to do with our bodies.”

Gov. Jim Justice said in a release that he is in favor of the Supreme Court’s decision and that he would declare a special session if clarifying state law is necessary. A larger rally for reproductive rights is planned at the capitol building in Charleston on July 9.

Marshall University Stands In Solidarity With Ukraine

Last week, Marshall faculty and students joined for a vigil at the Memorial Fountain Plaza to demonstrate solidarity with the country of Ukraine.

Marshall University President Brad Smith spoke at the vigil. He said that speaking up reflects the university’s values. Smith said, “our creed says that we are a just community and what’s happening right now in Ukraine is not just. What’s happening right now in Ukraine is not just and we will not stand in silence.”

Smith referenced Martin Luther King Jr., noting that, “in the end, we will not remember the worlds of our enemies. We will remember the silence of our friends.”

Marshall University President Brad Smith speaking at Ukraine vigil

Many students who attended the vigil are connected to Ukrainian friends and family through the internet.

Maize Palmer, a freshman, said he’s made close friends with many eastern Europeans through the prevalence of online gaming.

“I talk to them reliably once or twice a day and I said they are worried about this whole situation,” Palmer said. “It seems terrifyingly close even though I know it’s 2,000 miles away.”

“I felt like today was really poignant. I’ve been looking at the news very recently,” added Ella Hiles, a freshman with family ties to Russia. “I just hope and pray that Ukraine wins, and that everyone will be okay.”

Group of Marshall students gather with candles and Ukraine pins

Before the vigil, four Marshall University educators joined a virtual panel to discuss Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

All four panelists have friends and family in Ukraine and Russia, and they all shared their disdain for the actions taken by the Russian government.

Associate Professor of History Anara Tabyshalieva was born in the former Soviet Union. She’s an expert on history of war, gender issues, conflict management, and Eastern European and Central Asian history. Tabyshalieva has conducted research projects for the United Nations Development Program, United Nations University, and the Wilson Center.

“It’s easy to deal with smaller countries, but Ukraine was too independent,” Tabyshalieva said. She added that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, sees Ukraine’s democracy as a threat. “He would like to re-establish these colonies and establish the post-Soviet countries as Russian satellites.“

“When we talk about Ukraine, we imply not only Ukraine’s but also Russians, Tatars, Jews, Armenians and so all of them actually are now involved in this war,” Tabyshalieva said, adding that it’s a misconception to view Russia and Ukraine as ethnically homogenous.

Anara Tabyshalieva discussing the ethnic groups of Ukraine

Professor of Biological Science Victor Fet was born in Ukraine in 1955 and educated in Russia. He said that he’s stayed in contact with friends in both countries. He quoted what he told his friends, saying proudly in Russian, “‘Slava Ukraine (Слава Украине), Glory to Ukraine. Geroyam Slava (Слава героям), Glory to the heroes.’”

“The tides are turning. Russian armies have stalled; Blitzkrieg didn’t work,” Fet said, “They’re bombing as if by a Nazi textbook. They’re bombing the same sites. […] Repeat verbatim Hitler’s speeches.”

The panel moderator and Marshall dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Robert Bookwalter (top left), Anara Tabyshalieva (top right), Stefan Schöberlein (bottom left), Kateryna Schray (bottom center), and Victor Fet (bottom right).

Kateryna Schray is the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants and founding director of the Marshall University Center for Student Success.

“I was speaking with a friend last night, she says ‘that the people there are exhausted.’ Their bodies are in constant stress, and this includes mothers with very young children,” Schray said. “She describes people saying that they’re ‘living not by the day anymore, but by the hour.’”

Schray urged the audience to pray for Ukrainians, consider donating, and to keep their support visible. “You can’t take away these people’s sorrow but you can make our sorrow less lonely and it does help,” she said.

Russia’s actions have been met with global condemnation and economic sanctions. According to the Associated Press, more than 1.5 Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia’s invasion started Feb. 24.

Worldwide Candle Light Vigil Planned in Response to Elk River Chemical Spill

Many residents affected by the Elk River chemical spill contend that their water is still not safe to drink. Groups across the world are organizing candlelight vigils in response to the Elk River chemical spill, “in solidarity with West Virginians; to honor and protect all water.”

In an email, environmental groups such as Coal River Mountain Watch, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and Keepers of the Mountains invited others to attend a vigil in Charleston and encouraged people to start their own.

Since then, prayers groups, churches, Catholic sisters, concerned citizens, and schools appear to have organized vigils in their own towns.

Those wanting to participate are encouraged to bring a candle and even a sign to the ceremony of choice. Some in state are planned for Charleston at the Capitol, at Dayfly Books in Princeton, or at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling.

Other ceremonies are expected to happen in states such as New York, Georgia, and California as well as in other countries such as India and Canada.

The vigils are expected to begin at 6 tomorrow evening.