‘Recognize your power, and don’t be afraid of it.’

On Thursday, January 16th, everyone’s comrade in the fight for human rights, Marquise S. Hunt, passed away.

He was 27 years old. With his transition, the world lost a passionate advocate for equality and justice. Let us today commit to never allow our torchbearer’s burning light to be extinguished. Let it be a lasting tribute to the enormous legacy of our mighty warrior, visionary, and movement strategist. 

Marquise was also a co-founding member of the @ynlucoalition and was widely admired for his leadership and commitment to social justice, particularly during his time as president of the Tougaloo College chapter of the NAACP. His journey in activism began early, as a sophomore in high school, and blossomed when he moved to Mississippi to attend Tougaloo College in 2016.

With the chapter inactive upon his arrival, he seized the opportunity to revitalize it, becoming the first freshman elected NAACP chapter president. 

Under his leadership, the chapter flourished, hosting impactful events such as voting drives, panels on immigration, and dialogues addressing the Mississippi state flag. 

Marquise was the guiding force of mutual aid efforts and grassroots mobilizations across the country. Rest in power, Marquise!

– Anya Dillard