“Day of Mourning for Sonya Massey” Held in Downtown Greenville

A Grieving Community Pays Respects

In a solemn display of community solidarity, mourners gathered in downtown Greenville this past Sunday to honor the tragic and untimely death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot by an Illinois police officer. The tragic incident occurred on July 6 when deputies arrived at her Springfield home responding to her 911 call concerning a suspected prowler.

Body-camera footage, recently released, unveils the events leading to Massey’s death. It features Massey turning to switch off a pot of boiling water, to which she is warned by Deputy Sean Grayson with a threat that he will open fire if she attempts to throw the scalding water. Despite Masseys subsequent ducking, apologizing, and lifting of the pot, the deputy discharged his weapon three times. Deputy Grayson was later charged with three counts of first-degree murder among other crimes.

Vigil Held for Sonya Massey

As the sun began to set on a sorrow-filled afternoon; the Freedom Fighters Upstate held a vigil and day of mourning for Sonya Massey at the heart of downtown Greenville; the beloved One City Plaza. The event drew in a diverse and heart-felt crowd, all uniting in grief and a collective cry for justice for Sonya and other women who have tragically been victims of violence.

Organizer, Traci Fant, spoke to the gathered crowd, saying, “Greenville SC joins communities in cities across the country as they gather together to mourn the tragic loss of Sonya Massey. Amidst the political discourse, we should not overlook this case and we advocate for justice for Sonya Massey and other women who have been victims of violence.”

City-Wide Mourning for a Lost Life

Tragically, the death of Sonya Massey is not an isolated incident, but another painful reminder of the deep-seated structural problems within our justice system. As the community in Greenville mourns, their pain resonates across the country, bringing together cities in their shared grief and determination for change. Sunday’s vigil marked not only a day of mourning for Sonya Massey, but a clarion call for justice, peace, and systemic reform.

A Call for Justice

As the sun set on Greenville Sunday, the echoes of a mourning community left a powerful impression. The message was clear. To forget Sonya Massey would be to let another act of violence go unchecked. Representatives from Freedom Fighters Upstate and other advocates echoed a unanimous call to action —justice for Sonya Massey and all women who have tragically been victims of violence.