Local middle school holds vigil for for former student, Cortez Lemon

By Tierra StoneAFRO Interntierrastone@afro.comAs the rain came to a standstill on the afternoon of July 21, family and friends gathered at Leith Walk Elementary and Middle school to celebrate the life of Cortez Lemon. The teen was fatally stabbed on July 10 after a verbal altercation on a Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) bus.& Cortez completed his eighth grade year in June 2024 at Leith Walk Elementary and Middle School, which is located in the heart of Northeast Baltimore. He had hopes of attending highschool thereafter. Unfortunately, his life ended in the hot summer months that preceded the first day of his freshman year.Members of the Leith Walk Elementary and Middle School community, friends and family members continue to mourn and share memories of Cortez Lemon. A vigil was held on July 22 to remember his life, taken on July 10. (Photo Credit: Meta (Facebook) / Leith Walk ElementaryLeith Walk principal, Ashanti Porter, opened the ceremony and had the attendees gather around in a circle as the ceremony began.& “As a school leader you pray to God that you never have to do one of these moments,” said Porter. “You pray that when you bring the community together that we’re doing...