UNF students gather for vigil after Paris attacks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The reaction to the terror attacks in Paris has been met with a global outpouring of support for the French people and that includes young people in Jacksonville.

A vigil was held Monday night at the University of North Florida where students could speak out about how it impacted them.

Muslim, Jewish, Christian and atheist students all gathered together Monday walking the campus of UNF to support for the victims in Paris.

"Just to show support and solidarity and show that we all care," UNF student Morsal Osmani said.

Osmani is Muslim and has lived in Jacksonville practically her whole life. She hopes the world can unify after this attack and religious divisions don't come between people any more.

"I feel like (religious division) shouldn't be a norm, shouldn't (need) to be stated. I'm a Muslim and I wasn't born here or anything. I came here when I was 6, before 2001 when all that happened. I haven't had much discrimination but I know that's out there," Osmani said.

Riley Labaw is another UNF student and learned about the vigil on Facebook. He said the outpouring of support for the French people has been overwhelming among students.

"Just to show support for all the lives that were lost and stand with other people," Labaw said.

One student, Erick Malaver, wasn't at the vigil because he is studying in France, but was still there in spirit and spoke about what it means to him.

Malaver spoke to News4Jax via Skype and is studying abroad in France but is not in Paris. He said he was shaken up when he learned the country he was in was under attack.

"Hopefully I stay safe until I go back to the U.S. I'll be in Paris and other places like Amsterdam and Brussels during December. So hopefully the situation is better by then," Malaver said.

Malaver returns to the U.S. in January. He said the town he's in is a small town with a lot of students so he hopes he'll be OK.
 


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Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.