Eastern Michigan University students hold anti-violence rally

Recent violent crimes on, off campus prompts anti-violence rally, candlelight vigil

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan University students gathered Thursday evening preparing to march from the student union to the University Green Apartment complex.

It's at that complex that varsity football player Demarius Reed was found shot to death last week.

Story: Ypsilanti police: People heard gunshots, didn't call 911

"We are marching to that area because that's where all the violence has been," said Darius Simpson, an EMU junior.

The march is a symbol of a community coming together and hopefully moving in the right direction to end the violence.

"At the end of the day we can sit and talk all we want, but we wanted to get together and take action," Brandon Britt, an EMU junior and co-organizer of the event, said.

"Increase the Peace" is a movement put together by several student groups. After they marched, they rallied, and after they rallied, they held a candlelight vigil to not only remember Reed, but also Julia Niswender, an EMU student found dead in her off-campus apartment 10 months ago.

Story: Police: EMU student drowned, 'found in unnatural position'

"We're in the same situation as Demarius' parents are," Julia's Mother, Kim Turnquist, said. "There's no justice and we don't want anyone else to go through that."

Many students said these acts don't define EMU and by coming together, they're showing whoever did these things that this community won't stand for it anymore.

"We've had enough of what's going on," Simpson said. "This is our community, so you can join us or not. There are two options."


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Jamie anchors sports coverage on Local 4 News Saturdays at 6 & 11 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., in addition to hosting Sports Final Edition.