Legislators, activists hold vigil for Amazon tornado victims, demand accountability

Editor's note: This story was originally published in the Belleville News-Democrat

EDWARDSVILLE — On Friday night, activists, lawmakers and families gathered to honor those who died while working at an Edwardsville Amazon warehouse that collapsed during a tornado last week. Speakers at the event also called for accountability from Amazon on worker and building safety in relation to the tragedy, and on general safety standards.

“A lot of people in this season are celebrating with pictures and light bulbs and presents and gifts and all of those things, but there is another side to Christmas,” said Rev. Darryl Gray, senior pastor of Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, during the event. “

This Christmas, there are families who will go to their dining room tables, their kitchen tables and there will be chairs that are empty. Those are families of the victims of the tornado here at the Amazon warehouse.”

Friday’s candlelight vigil was held at the DLI4 Amazon delivery center on 3077 Gateway Commerce Dr. , where six people died after a tornado struck the building around 8:30 a.m. Friday, December 10.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/health-science-environment/2021-12-18/legislators-activists-hold-vigil-for-amazon-tornado-victims-demand-accountability