Northwest Yonkers Neighbors for Black Lives Matter dedicates weekly vigil to Sonya Massey

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A racial justice group in Yonkers dedicated its weekly vigil on Monday in honor of Sonya Massey, the Black woman who was fatally shot by a deputy in Illinois. The group is called Northwest Yonkers Neighbors for Black Lives Matter. For the last four years, the group has been meeting at the corner of Warburton and Odell avenues on Mondays to read the names of Black people who have been killed by police. This week, it added Sonya Massey's name to this list. According to information posted on a Sangamon County website, Massey was a 36-year-old Black woman from Springfield, Ill. The website said she died inside her home on July 6 from a gunshot wound to the head after calling police for help about a person who was allegedly outside of her home. The source added that Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson was the person who discharged his firearm that ultimately struck and killed Massey. While he's been fired from his job and indicted, Susan McAnanama, an organizer from the racial justice group, said she hopes justice is served. "We hope he gets what he deserves. We've seen this before. We've been out here for four years since the death of George Floyd. It has to change," she said. "We're here to say that 'Black Lives Matter.'" "