Nationwide Vigils Honor Nonbinary Teen Who Died Following Oklahoma School Fight

Vigils took place across the nation for Oklahoma teenager Nex Benedict, who died the day after a fight in a high school bathroom.

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) — Vigils took place across the nation for an Oklahoma teenager who died the day after a fight in a high school bathroom in which the nonbinary student said they were a target of bullying.

Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old who identified as nonbinary and used they/them pronouns, got into an altercation with three girls in an Owasso High School bathroom who were picking on Benedict and some friends. The girls attacked Benedict for pouring water on them, the teen told police in a video released Friday.

Benedict’s mother called emergency responders to the family home the day after the fight, saying Benedict’s breathing was shallow, their eyes were rolling back and their hands were curled, according to audio released by Owasso police.

Vigils for Benedict were held in Oklahoma and locations across the country, including Boston, Minneapolis, New York and Huntington Beach, California in the days following the student’s death.

Kanan Durham, executive director of Pride at the Pier, said during the Huntington Beach event on Friday that “this single moment cannot be the only way that we honor Nex.”