Vigil held at Kiener Plaza, honoring Sonya Massey
ST. LOUIS – The nation mourns as vigils are held from coast to coast for Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman fatally shot by police in her Springfield, Ill., home. Residents gathered at Kiener Plaza in St. Louis Monday evening, united in grief and outrage over what they see as a tragic miscarriage of justice.
Massey was shot and killed after calling for help and gearing an intruder. The officer, Sean Grayson, is charged with her murder, but citizens in St. Louis told FOX 2 that this tragedy echoes a disturbing pattern of Black women who have lost their lives in their own homes.
“Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland… the pattern means we don’t know how to police our communities, or they haven’t made the possible changes in hiring police to where they need to be from the communities,” Kourtney Harris, one of the vigil’s organizers, said.
The release of body camera footage has sparked national outrage, showing a chaotic scene. Grayson, who had a history of misconduct, was fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department.
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Now, the Massey family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, calls for accountability.
“Police officers jumping around from different municipalities, creating havoc and chaos and nobody has a record of it. So this is a prime example why the George Floyd Act is so important to pass, so that police reform that really makes a difference can happen,” John Bowman, president of the St. Louis County NAACP, said.
Monday’s vigil consisted of candles, remarks, poetry and a musical performance. All walks of life came out to support. With nationwide vigils and protests, including a march in Springfield where Sonya Massey’s story unfolded, citizens said the community’s message is clear: the call for justice rings louder than ever.
“I’m heartbroken for the reality that I’m Sonya Massey. You are Sonya Massey. Every Black female in this city is possibly Sonya Massey because there is no discrimination in the tactics used to kill Black people by the police,” attendee Terri Coats said.
As the investigation continues and the nation watches, the citizens of St. Louis have said the memory of Sonya Massey becomes a rallying cry for justice, unity and change.
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