Sheffield vigil planned for murdered Brianna Ghey
A vigil to honour the life of Brianna Ghey will be held in Sheffield on Thursday as police deem attack to be a "possible hate crime".
Brianna Ghey
Cheshire ConstabularyFollowing the murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey on Saturday in Culcheth, people across the country want to express their sadness and solidarity. To that end, a vigil is taking place on Thursday 16 February in Sheffield's Peace Gardens, starting at 8pm.
Two 15-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of Brianna's murder. Police said today that it could have been a hate crime. Brianna's friends say she had experienced years of transphobic bullying.
Whatever the motivation for her murder, a community is left devastated. Brianna's family describe her as a "much loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister." They speak of her as "a larger than life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her."
"Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless and one of a kind."
Join us this Thursday for a candle lit vigil honouring the life of Brianna Ghey and remembering why she is no longer with us pic.twitter.com/tNBACMmmkS
— Sheffield Solidarity Group (@sheffsolgroup) February 13, 2023
Organisers of the vigil told Now Then:
Brianna Ghey was murdered, a child with her whole life ahead of her. While the police have not yet decided her murder a hate crime, the fact is that Brianna lived in a Britain where hate crimes of all types, especially transphobic hate crimes, have been massively on the rise for over a decade, unchallenged by many.
We are holding a vigil to show respect to a member of our community let down by our country, government and society at large that has let transphobes, homophobes and bigots organise to spread hatred and fear.
Their hate must be abolished and a vital path to challenging them must involve making our love and respect louder and more widespread than they can ever be.
