SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Ceremonies like the one that took place at Hendrick's Chapel in Syracuse remind many of the hundreds of individuals who have lost their lives since 1970 due to violence against transgender people.

One of those people was Teish Cannon. She was not forgotten during the private ceremony behind these doors. Cannon was shot and killed last weekend. It's a crime that the district attorney's office will have to determine whether or not was a hate crime.

"Here in Syracuse, it obviously takes on a special meaning in light of the recent tragic murder of a transgender person," said Matthew Snyder of the S.U. Division of Student Affairs.

Many may think that violence against transgender individuals happens in bigger cities. But that, in fact, is not the case. And the recent murder of Teish Cannon brought that to the forefront.

"Quite often, we think about this violence as happening in places like New York City or San Francisco, but this last weekend's event has given us a sad reminder that this violence is happening in our own backyards and our communities, so it's important for us to come together and speak out against it." said Amit Taneja, Associate Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center on campus.

"This is a very somber and angering experience for the broader Syracuse community," added Snyder. "The other is that this is a real coming together. You know, I think there's a tendency to think of violence against transgender people as something that happens in the big cities, clearly it's something that's happened right here in Syracuse."

The man charged in Cannon's homicide pleaded not guilty earlier this week. Dwight DeLee, 20, has been charged with second degree murder.