More than 100 people, including some area high-schoolers, gathered Thursday at the Oklahoma Capitol to express their grief for Nex Benedict and the messaging surrounding Benedict's death.
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Jessica Visalli holds a sign quoting lyrics from a Garth Brooks song during a march for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
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Protesters gather outside the Oklahoma Capitol on Thursday to demand justice for Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old Owasso High School nonbinary student who died of suicide on Feb. 8, one day after being involved in a fight at Owasso High School and reportedly after ongoing bullying.
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Protesters march outside the Oklahoma Capitol on Thursday in a call for acceptance of and justice for LGBTQ+ people.
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A crowd listens to Kris Williams speak during Thursday's march and rally for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol.
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Kali Eernisse holds a sign during the rally for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
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A sign held aloft at the state Capitol on Thursday calls for people to love one another. The rally was in response to the death by suicide of Owasso High School nonbinary student Nex Benedict.
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People participate in a march for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
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A student from Oklahoma City's Classen School of Advanced Studies speaks during a march for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
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Students from Oklahoma City's Classen School of Advanced Studies march to the state Capitol to participate in a march for Nex Benedict on Thursday.
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Andrew Johnson makes a sign before the march for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
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Sara Cunningham, founder of Free Mom Hugs, holds a flag during Thursday's march for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
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People participate in a march for Nex Benedict at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
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"In memory of Nex, we must all recommit to our work to end discrimination and address the suicide crisis impacting too many nonbinary and transgender children," the president's statement says.
