Barbara Child, a former professor at Kent State, was the first to stand vigil at Jeffrey Miller’s spot in the Prentice Hall parking lot on Friday night and will speak on Miller’s behalf during the commemorations on Saturday, May 4.

Miller’s mother, Elaine Holstein, passed away on May 28, 2018, and was the last of the surviving parents of the victims. Child said it’s an honor they asked her to speak on his behalf.

“I’m so grateful for the people that see to it that this keeps happening,” Child said. As for today’s students who came to the vigil, Child said it’s important for them to know about dissent.

“There are lots of things that are worthy of dissent today, and so people have to constantly be aware of what can happen and how important it is to not let those rights just evaporate.”