Carolina Peace - JULY 1: Candlelight Vigil for Sean Kennedy

JULY 1: Candlelight Vigil for Sean Kennedy

Written by Melanie Knight

Tuesday, 26 June 2007

^{What: A Statewide Candlelight Vigil to celebrate the life and mourn the death of 20-year-old Greenville resident Sean Kennedy. ^{Where: SC State House- Corner of Gervais St. and Assembly St., Columbia, SC

When: Sunday, July 1, 2007, 3:30 pm (Artist Performances); Speakers begin at 7:00 pm; Keynote Address at 8 pm followed by Candle Light Vigil

Contact: Melissa Moore, South Carolina Equality Coalition, 803.318.6900 (cell),
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it}}

South Carolinians Hold Vigil in the Memory of Slain Youth

June 22, 2007

For Immediate Release

Contact: Melissa Moore, South Carolina Equality Coalition, 803.318.6900 (cell), This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Candle Light Vigil at the Planned at SC State House

Who: SC Equality Coalition (SCEC), Representative Seth Whipper (D-Charleston), Sean’s Last Wish Foundation, South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement (SCGLPM), USC BGLSA, The Center Project, Upstate United, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Metropolitan Community Church.

Program will include: Representative Seth Whipper (D-Charleston)- Introduced Hate Crimes Bill in the House (H3738), Elke Kennedy- Mother of Sean Kennedy, Dawn Kennedy- Sister of Sean Kennedy, Reverend Candace Chellew-Hodge- Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Ed Madden- Past Chair, South Carolina Equality Coalition.

Speakers: Elke & Dawn Kennedy; Rep. Seth Whipper; Reverend Candace Chellew-Hodge- Garden of Grace Church; Ed Madden- Past Chair, South Carolina Equality Coalition.

What: A Statewide Candlelight Vigil to celebrate the life and mourn the death of 20-year-old Greenville resident Sean Kennedy. Kennedy was attacked May 16^{th when he was exiting a Greenville establishment. He later died. Police authorities are investigating whether his killer mentioned Kennedy’s sexual orientation as a gay man before or after the attack. The Vigil will draw attention to Sean Kennedy’s dream of a just society and the non-discrimination bills currently before the South Carolina Legislature and the U.S. Congress. These bills would bring protections necessary to safeguard victims like Sean Kennedy, gay and lesbian people, and other marginalized groups.}^{Where: SC State House- Corner of Gervais St. and Assembly St., Columbia, SC

When: Sunday, July 1, 2007, 3:30 pm (Artist Performances); Speakers begin at 7:00 pm; Keynote Address at 8 pm followed by Candle Light Vigil

Why: "Parents live in fear that their gay child will be beaten or even killed because they are gay. We must do everything in our power to stop the violence. We can begin by working diligently to see that hate crime legislation is passed in South Carolina and the United States Congress."

-Harriet D. Hancock, Chair of PFLAG Columbia, SC

"I remember when I was carrying Sean about all of my dreams and hopes I had for him. He had reached all the dreams and hopes a mother could ask for and he accomplished this in only 20 years." – Elke Kennedy, Sean’s Mother.

"South Carolina must join the rest of the country in emphasizing the importance of human life. That is what this hate crimes bill is all about."

- Representative Seth Whipper (D-Charleston)

July 1, 3:30-10pm: Vigil to commemorate the life and mourn the death of 20-year-old Greenville resident Sean Kennedy, State House grounds. Opening performances by local artists and musicians will begin at 3:30 pm. The full program will begin at 7pm and will include statements from local leaders, followed by a candle-lighting ceremony led by Sean's mother, Elke Kennedy, and his sister, Dawn Kennedy. Included in the program as speakers are Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, SC Rep. Seth Whipper (D-Charleston), Elke and Dawn Kennedy, Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge, Ed Madden of SCEC, and Harriet Hancock of PFLAG. The statewide vigil is being organized as community outrage has skyrocketed following Kennedy's death. Speculation has mounted that he was attacked because he was gay. Witnesses say that Kennedy was punched in the face, knocking him to the ground as he exited a Greenville establishment on May 16. When his head hit the pavement, he was fatally wounded. An investigation into the crime continues, including a probable motive that Kennedy's killer uttered anti-gay comments either before or after the attack. Read the full text of the South Carolina non-discrimination bills at http://www.scequality.org/.}

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."