#147notjustanumber
Wtich Weekly encourages you to read about their stories on twitter with the hashtag #147notjustanumber and on the document created to remember their lives found at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ka57mwGPnE2Jb46NELpR4MzelDpWrfJO9NH4tHjmD4Q/edit#gid=0
Dear Students of Garissa University College,
Due to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, you will not read this letter but it does not lessen our sympathy for you and the solidarity in which we stand with you. We may be quite a bit younger than you with our ages everywhere from 11 to 18, but that doesn’t take away from our understanding of the horror you faced.
17 years ago, our school was attacked by evil men and women who used violence and death to try to achieve power over everyone and hated anyone different than them. Most of us weren’t born then, but we know the stories from our parents who were here and from the ghosts that remain tied to the school. We lost parents and uncles and aunts and family friends that we never got to know. We can’t imagine what it would be like to face such violence unarmed as you were when gunmen held you captive and began killing anyone who believed differently than them.
So to you the survivors, we hope that you stay strong and stick together. But we want to take the time to remember the 147 people that fell at the hands of such hatred. You’re not just a number from a news story. You have your own stories to be remembered: like Leah N Wafula who was the first of her nine brothers and sisters to go to university, and Gideon Kirui whose whole family helped him raise the funds for his education, and Selpher Wandia who was studying to be a teacher, and Beatrice Njiri Thinwa who listened to Kenny Rogers music and Mildred Yondo who loved theatre, music and mangoes.
We will remember you this month as we do those we lost in our own war. Your pictures will be posted alongside those of our lost ones. We’ll help remember your stories.
Sincerely, The Students of Hogwarts
Head Girl Celeste Springdowell,
Head Boy Jose Martinez de Aguiar
Head Boy Arun Peri
Head Girl Tina Travers
Head Girl Lupita Karago
Head Boy Michael Prewett
Head Boy Peter Parkinson
Head Girl Hinata Kato
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