Thursday evening, a group of Raleigh citizens gathered to hold a vigil against violence. It comes after a stark rise in homicides in 2008, and was held in remembrance of the 34 victims and the impact on the community. The vigil took place at 5 p.m. in Nash Square, across from city hall. Prayers were held and the names of the victims were read in reverence as a community came together to speak out against the violence. It was hosted by the Triangle Interfaith Alliance, who hosts vigils throughout the city.
Octavia Rainey“Violence has had a huge impact on our community. It makes people fear uncertainty, distrust, anxiety. They bring people together.” |
 |
Tom McCann“This is one small way of saying I don’t want violence for myself, for my children, for my city. This helps us raise awareness through the media” |
 |
Bill Bingham“(These vigils help us) talk about things, come to an understanding” |
 |
Roberta Mothershead“We believe in the sanctity of life, that we are all connected. A loss of life is a loss for all of us. The importance of these vigils is many layered: A visual image, a spiritual witness, and helps us support each other.” |
 |
Scott Bass“These people’s lives are lost, not forgotten. This is for victims, families, and the perpetrators. We don’t think the people who commit these acts need to be discarded.” |
 |
