About 50 people attended the vigil in Sacramento, which was co-hosted by the Sacramento Valley/Nevada County Brady Campaign Chapters, the Lutheran Office of Public Policy, Physicians for Social Responsibility/Sacramento, the Friends Committee on Legislation of California, and Rev. Alan Jones of St. Mark’s Church. Those present were honored and pleased to be joined by Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Senator Darrell Steinberg, and Assembly Member Roger Dickinson.
Supporters gathered on the steps of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where the music, flowers, and candlelight at dusk provided a perfect setting. Signs bore the names of victims of gun violence inside a heart. The elected officials spoke of the enormous tragedy of gun violence and their commitment to prevention.
The church bell tolled as the names of victims were read – first from Tucson, then from Seal Beach, Cupertino, and Los Angeles, and finally, from Stockton in 1989. The names of more victims were said – a brother and a son lost by suicide, a daughter by homicide, two men by homicide, a friend…there are too many victims. It was a solemn, beautiful, and moving event.
Then, walking two by two, a short memorial procession to California’s Capitol Park was followed by a candlelight vigil. In silence, people stood together in witness to the tragedy of gun violence and their resolve to prevent it. Passersby expressed support. All were heartened by the thought of candlelight vigils around the country. May their collective light lead America from the darkness of gun violence.
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