Solidarity with Charleston Candlelight Vigil held in Tampa Credit: Chip Weiner
Solidarity with Charleston Candlelight Vigil held in Tampa Credit: Chip Weiner
A diverse and peaceful crowd gathered Saturday night for a candlelight vigil to show solidarity with the families of those who died in the Charleston, S.C. shooting Wednesday. Approximately 100 people attended the event, held in Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa, listening to speakers talk about the problem of ongoing racism — the motivation of Wednesday's killings in a black church — and what needs to be done to solve it.
On June 17th nine people were killed while attending a Bible class at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Dylann Storm Roof, a 21-year-old white male, has been arrested and accused of the shooting, to which he has confessed.
Devan Cheaves of the Bay Area Activist Coalition and Dream Defenders organizations watches as others speak at the vigil on Saturday night. Credit: Chip Weiner
A diverse crowd lit candles and spoke of the need for unity and the need for change in the way the nation talks about race. Credit: Chip Weiner
Around 100 people came together in downtown Tampa before dark to participate in the candlelight vigil. Credit: Chip Weiner
A minister from the Unitarian Universalist Church speaks. Credit: Chip Weiner
A moment of silence was observed during the ceremony to honor those who died in the shooting in Charleston. The name of each victim was read. Credit: Chip Weiner
Poet Venus Jones shares her thoughts and reads some of her work during the observance in Lykes Gaslight park on Saturday. Credit: Chip Weiner
The vigil lasted a little over an hour, ending around 9 p.m. with the attendees singing "We Shall Overcome" and "Amazing Grace."
