LAS VEGAS – There were about 50 people at the candlelight vigil held at UNLV on Wednesday night for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

The gathering began at 5 p.m., and it lasted for roughly an hour in front of the College of Hospitality building. Multiple people waved both huge and little Turkish flags.

Together with several UNLV professors, including her husband Ozgur Ozdemir, Ezgi Ozdemir planned the vigil. They have ties to the country of Turkey as both their birthplace and current home.

We’re in the middle of nowhere, distant from everything. Raise money and awareness, she argued, is our only option.

Eight hours separated the 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. The Associated Press reports that around 39,000 people have perished.

Ezgi Ozdemir donates his time to the Bridge to Turkiye Fund, an American charity that aids Turkish groups working with earthquake survivors.

According to her, no one in her family lives in the area of Turkey hit by the earthquake.

To be honest, it doesn’t make much of a difference to us. “Since then, the entire Turkish people have been utterly devastated,” she remarked. We are still in disbelief.

Everybody gathered around a vase of white roses. Several flameless candles were placed on the floor amongst red roses. Some of the candles were arranged to resemble the Turkish flag’s crescent and star.

She stated, “I’m just thankful for the support that we’ve seen from all the countries, and I think people should be showing the same amount of support for Syria as well.”

Ezgi Ozdemir was uncertain of her emotions leading up to the vigil. She reported feeling emotional after the vigil.

I felt amazing because it was so wonderful to see everyone come together as a community,” she remarked. We proved that we can support one another and rally around a common cause by working together.

Credits: Review Journal

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