More than 250 Baton Rouge residents gathered Friday night to honor those who died as a result of the May 12 earthquakes in China that claimed the lives of more than 30,000 people.

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association hosted the event in front of the Memorial Tower, where a slideshow showed pictures of the tragedy and several speakers addressed the audience.

The CSSA set up tables and collection boxes to raise funds to send to China to help in the relief effort.

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Photos by J.J. Alcantara