On a surprisingly warm Michigan evening on Detroit’s eastside, 27 youth, ages six through 18 gathered at newly restored Beland-Manning Park. Darkness was chasing away the sunlight as little children eagerly climbed the playscape and screamed with delight. They were playing in their new park! Several of the older teens smiled with pride. They were among many volunteers who restored the park during the summer. A van from Detroit’s WXYZ/Channel 7 News parked and a news reporter and cameraman got out to interview and videotape the youth as they played. Two years ago, the park was a wasteland with high grass and litter. Little children were discouraged from playing in the area. The youth of Neighborhood Service Organization’s Youth Initiatives Project (YIP) along with other volunteers decided to help fix up the park to improve the community. On this day, however, they decided to also have a candlelight vigil to honor those who lost their lives to gun violence. They called their younger peers to their small circle and passed out candles to everyone. The younger children were placed in the middle of the circle. Prayers and comments were made for fathers, uncles, brothers, sisters, mothers and close friends. Too many victims were named. Yet, the park symbolized renewal to all. The reporter and camerman were moved. That’s the reaction the youth wanted.

View the story by WXYZ-TV by clicking here.

All told, about 30 people gathered to remember people who we have recently lost to gun violence. At a National Parks site, we honored the life of recent murdered U.S. Park Ranger Margaret Anderson who was killed in the line of duty on New Year’s Eve at Mount Rainier National Park. The group also higlighted recent assaults and killings in the Topeka area, including the death of local business owner Corey Brown who was murdered just a few days before the vigil. Vigil participants shared thoughts, sang songs, and lit candles to recognize victims of the violence that has assaulted the communty. At the end, local civic activist Sonny Scroggins tied a black ribbon around a tree and prayed that this will mark an end to violence in this community.

People in Reading, PA joined Mayor Spencer in lighting candles to remember those who have lost their lives to gun violence and to demand that their elected officials take action to end the proliferation of illegal guns.

Jim and I and our family held a private candlelight vigil in our home to remember the victims of the Tucson, AZ shootings and those who have been wounded and lost through gun violence all over this country. We know, better than we would like to, the suffering that so many Americans experience because of gun violence. For that reason, we have dedicated our lives to reducing this toll. On January 8, we reflected with sadness, but our hearts were also cheered as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords led the Pledge of Allegiance before an audience of thousands in Tucson. We are so encouraged by her wonderful progress. Her will to fight should inspire and motivate us all.

Sarah Brady

Majahne Williams, 14 years old, takes part in a candlelight vigil to highlight the need to combat gun violence. Majahne lost her mom, Natalie Williams, to domestic violence involving a gun, in December 2000. The vigil was held inside Niles Chapel in Princeton.
By Mary Iuvone/For the Times of Trenton

Starting at 5:00 p.m. on the steps of the old Federal Building, the Eugene, Oregon vigil was an outdoor event. Candles were lit. Short speeches were made by Betsy Steffensen (from Million Mom March), Baldr Odinson (Ceasefire Oregon), Denise Baker (Lane County Suicide Prevention), and Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy (a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns). The speeches emphasized the need to lock up and unload guns in homes with children, the lack of background checks for private sales, and the need for civility in discourse about guns. Most of all, the greatest emphasis was on the overwhelming number of case of gun violence, both in the U.S. and here in Lane County, Oregon.

There was a moment of silence, then the reading of names of those in the county who had been victims of gun violence. This was particularly moving, as a young man had the week before been accidentally shot by his juvenile brother, even though they lived ON the grounds of a gun club, had grown up with guns as part of their lives, and whose family were custodians of the club. Friends and family of the slain young man were present at the ceremony. Also moving was the account of Officer Kilcullen, killed last year by a seriously mentally ill person who had purchased her gun legally. After the reading, people were invited to come up and read names of others not listed.

After the reading of names, a prayer was offered by a member of Church Women United, and then Amazing Grace was played by a bagpiper before we adjourned.

Though it was a cold night for our area, in the mid-30′s, there was a turnout of around 50 people, each holding lit candles. Looking out over the crowd during the moment of silence is a memory I will always cherish for its emotion.

The Eugene, Oregon vigil was co-sponsored by a number of organizations: Ceasefire Oregon, Million Mom March, Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation, Democratic Party of Lane County Peace Caucus, and Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC). Other groups helped spread the word, including Beyond War, Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), Church Women United, and Occupy Eugene.

Ohioans showed their respect and honored the victims of gun violence in twelve different places on Sunday. There were four events and eight churches which equaled more than 3,300 people offering prayer, silence and song, and candlelight in memory of all victims and survivors of gun violence. Three events were held in Columbus Ohio. Ohio State Representative Tracey Maxwell Heard attended and spoke at one event and Ohio State Representative Ted Celeste participated in the First English Church event. Both of these were evening events with speakers, victims and advocates. In Beachwood, Mayor Earl Leiken of Shaker Heights joined the crowd to form a circle of candlelight. In Sylvania, Toledo, Columbus and Lyndhurst churches, prayers were offered and candles were lit, some in ceremony and some as a single light burning in remembrance. Faith leaders asked the participants to remember all victims during their Sunday services. In Fremont, Perrysburg, and Columbus churches said prayers with their congregations, had special candles burning and were invited by their pastors to be part of the solution to change our culture of violence. Everyone embraced the concern that there are Too Many Victims!

As evening descended on a day of vigils in remembrance of the first anniversary of the Tucson shootings and all victims of gun violence, people of peace gathered at First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple for an evening candlelight vigil and remembrance. The event was hosted by the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.
Joining the vigil were Congressmen Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Mike Quigley, both of Chicago, and both strong advocates for common-sense gun laws. Following a welcome and opening prayer from Rev. Wendy Witt of the host church, both Congressmen eloquently spoke of the ravages of gun violence throughout this country and our community, and both called for action. Congressman Jackson reflected on the return of his colleague, Comgresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, to the House floor for a key vote and as a show of strength.
The vigil then turned to remembering local victims and their families and calling on elected officials, community leaders and residents to stop the madness and work to end gun violence.
Sarita Villarreal shared the story of her brother, Antonio Marquez, killed in 2002 when he stopped to help a homeless person only blocks from his home. Two months later, his wife gave birth to their son who never had an opportunity to meet his dad.
Pam Bosely, who lost her son Terrill to senseless violence, shared the message of Elder Bernice King (daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, Jr. and Coretta Scott King) from an earlier sermon during which she stressed one’s needed to turn in their piece if they wanted real peace. What an inspiring message for us all.
After the last call to action by 24-year-old activist Camiella Williams, who talked about how wrong it is that someone so young should have buried 18 of her friends because of violence, the families, friends and participants at the vigil stood with candles aglow and spoke the names of their loved ones lost to or injured to gun violence. The pain of those loses was obvious to all but equally important was the hope and dedication on the lips of all that we MUST end this senseless gun violence now. What a truly uplifting experience for all.

More than 40 people attended the Vancouver, WA vigil at the beautiful St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Vancouver. Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt spoke about a childhood friend being killed by a boy playing with an unsecured shotgun. Andrea Banister shared her story, for the first time publicly, about surviving the Columbine High School massacre. In between speakers the crowd listened to the talented Lauren and Jordan Berg sing a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace and The Lord Keep and Bless You. The names of the 19 people shot in Tucson, AZ on January 8, 2011 were read and members of the crowd stood up to share the name of a loved one lost to gun violence. As candles were being lit, cellist Theresa Mammerella played The Swan which brought many of the attendees to tears. Pastor Chris Nolte and Vicar Matt Anderson led prayers throughout the program. It was a wonderful and moving vigil!

The vigil held in Stamford, CT started at the Old Town Hall. From there, a march led to the Unitarian Universalist Chirch, where the vigil was held. The vigil was sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Southwestern CT and CT Against Gun Violence. Remarks were made by families of victims, elected officials, community leaders and members of the Faith community.

We would like to thank all of the speakers and attendees who came together at Too Many Victims: A Candlelight Vigil in Remembrance of Victims of Gun Violence last night in Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.

It was a powerful and moving evening, and reminded us that when we stand together, we can make a difference in addressing the epidemic of gun violence in America.

Thank you for acting together with us.

A special thanks to our speakers:
Senator Mark Leno
Assemblyman Jerry Hill
Reverend Michael McBride
Griffin Dix
Mindy Finkelstein
Brianna Dunn
And Lorraine Taylor, for her words and song

The event was co-hosted by Legal Community Against Violence, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Bay Area Chapters, 1000 Mothers to Prevent Violence, and Youth ALIVE!

Despite a sudden downpour that necessitated a move from the state capitol to a nearby Methodist church, about 50 people gathered for the Austin, Texas “Too Many Victims” candlelight vigil to pay tribute to those lost to or injured by gun violence. The diverse crowd offered a reminder that gun violence affects every type of person in every type of community. Young or old, no matter what race or gender, and despite the neighborhood we live in, gun violence touches us all. The speakers at the Austin vigil included a Methodist reverend, the Travis County Sheriff, a constable, a 27-year-old graduate student, a 40-something mother and a 21-year-old college student. All were united by one commonality; they want to see an end to the gun violence that takes our loved ones from us and strikes a pain so deep in the heart that we will never stop grieving.

Portland, Maine’s vigil was attended by about 70 people. A number of organizations sponsored the event including the faith and medical communities. We also had “Silent Witness” cutouts to help us remember those who have died from gun violence. We held our vigil at noon which was accompanied by the ringing of church bells and the City Hall bell. We lit a single candle and opened with a prayer for all faiths. Two very brave women who were victims of gun violence spoke about their experiences. Dayna was attacked where she worked and said her son saved her life as she tried to protect him (she was 17-weeks pregnant) with her arm. The bullet passed through bone, muscle, and tissue coming out harmlessley on the other side. Judi, the mother 25-year-old Darien who was shot two years ago to the very day, spoke from her heart about her daughter and the shooting. She was comforted by Rev. Jill Saxby from the Maine Council of Churches. There was not a dry eye in the crowd. Speakers talked about the ease with which guns can be obtained by those who should not have them. We also heard from the director of a domestic violence shelter about the dangers of guns related to domestic violence. We closed with a moment of silence. Many in the crowd stayed and talked and hugged. It really was an amazing experience. Thanks go to Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence, States United Against Gun Violence, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Maine Medical Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine Chapter, Boys to Men, Family Crisis Services, Peace Action Maine, and Maine Council of Churches. In attendance as well were representatives of Temple Bet Ha’am in Portland and Million Mom March Maine Chapter.

The people killed in Tucson, Arizona on January 8, 2011 were among the 98,000 men, women and children shot in America every year. In California, more than 7,700 people are shot each year. Since the Tucson incident, there have been three mass shootings in California – Cupertino, Seal Beach and Los Angeles (Irwindale) — where a total of 16 people were killed and 12 wounded. On January 6th, a candlelight vigil was held in Walnut Creek. The event was organized by the Contra Costa Brady Campaign Chapter and the Peace and Justice Center.

Click here for television coverage of the vigil.