Coastal Carolina University roommates Tyler Williams and Brianna Martin were upset by recent events surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor, 26, in Kentucky, and decided Wednesday night to hold a campus rally.

“We have to do something,” Martin said. “We can’t be the only ones here to feel passion about this.”

Martin said she and Williams stayed up late at night making flyers, contacting teachers and friends and sending Instagram direct messages to everyone they know.

About 60 people attended their Justice for Breonna Taylor rally on Friday on Prince Lawn on the CCU campus, where Williams, Martin, Student Government Association (SGA) President Darwin Flores and others spoke about their feelings. on this subject.

In March, Kentucky police obtained an arrest warrant and forced their way into the home of Taylor, a black woman, where her boyfriend exchanged gunfire with authorities, and Taylor died during the exchange. Officers were working on a drug case, but no drugs were found at the house.

Recent news that the officers who fired the shots during the raid were not charged with the death of Taylor, a black woman, sparked unrest and protests in her hometown of Louisville, Ky., And elsewhere.

The rally flyer asked students to wear black, wear masks, and “come out to express your thoughts and stand in solidarity in the face of injustice.”

Junior Jerardo Perez thought the rally was a good way to let other students know that maybe they weren’t alone in their feelings.

“It’s a good opportunity to have an open space for everyone to express themselves,” said Perez.

Williams became emotional as she spoke to the crowd, standing on one of Prince Lawn’s benches with a megaphone.

“What is happening in the world today is embarrassing. A person doesn’t have to die for black lives to count, ”Williams told the crowd. “We need to start talking and doing more events like this. Every black woman deserves better.

Martin said black women are “very, very low in society, where they shouldn’t be.”

“[Breonna’s] death lit a fire under [me] and made me want to … make sure we all had a voice. We can come together for the right reasons, ”said Martin.

Flores, president of SGA, said her job is to make everyone on campus feel like ‘we are one’.

“With the current national climate, it’s hard to see each other together… but we control what we see on this campus. We will not be silenced. Use your social networks and show solidarity. Your leadership goes far beyond these Carolina coastal walls, ”said Flores.

Another event, described as a peaceful candlelight vigil in Taylor’s honor, will take place tomorrow night, Saturday, September 26 at 11:30 p.m., also on Prince Lawn.