Jessie Taylor
In the wake of mass shootings, candlelight vigils have been held in Texas to honour victims and call for change. In 2017, a candlelight vigil was held outside the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, where a gunman had opened fire, killing 26 people and injuring dozens more. Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined more than a hundred local residents in the vigil, saying, We're coming together to pray for them and show the world that now, in the midst of darkness, there is light. In 2019, about a dozen people gathered across from the Capitol to remember the lives lost in the Santa Fe shooting a year prior. In 2022, candlelight vigils were held in San Diego's Balboa Park and Waterfront Park to honour the victims of the Uvalde massacre, where 19 children and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School. Hundreds more gathered in Uvalde a year later to honour the victims.
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What You'll Learn
- San Diegans honour Uvalde victims at candlelight vigil
- Santa Fe candlelight vigil remembers victims on the anniversary of the shooting
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott joins candlelight vigil for victims of First Baptist Church shooting
- Candlelight vigil held for Robb Elementary School victims
- Student Empowerment Association hosts candlelight vigil for victims of gun violence in Texas
San Diegans honour Uvalde victims at candlelight vigil
On Tuesday evening, San Diegans gathered at Waterfront Park to honour the victims of the Uvalde school shooting in a candlelight vigil and protest. The event was organised by a new local anti-gun violence group, Safer CA PAC. Speakers at the event, including a pastor from La Mesa, Rebecca Littlejohn, focused on the horrors of gun violence and the need for new laws to curb it.
About 100 people attended the vigil, with a smaller group also gathering outside the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. The mourners paid tribute to the 19 children and two teachers who were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday. The vigil came a day after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in two fourth-grade classrooms, killing 19 children and two teachers, and injuring 17 others.
Starla Lewis, a professor at San Diego Mesa College, asked those gathered to close their eyes and imagine being a child again, referring to every child as a “gift from God” and a “creation of the Creator”. She spoke about the need to cherish all life and the contrast between guns, which take life, and honouring life over guns. Mama Becker-Varano also participated in the vigil, honouring the victims of the shooting.
The San Diego community joined others across the country in mourning the victims of the Uvalde school shooting and demanding changes to gun laws in the United States. The candlelight vigils provided a space for people to grieve together and call for action to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
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Santa Fe candlelight vigil remembers victims on the anniversary of the shooting
On the anniversary of the Santa Fe school shooting, a candlelight vigil was held to remember the victims of the tragedy and others who have fallen victim to gun violence in Texas. The vigil was hosted by the Student Empowerment Association, a group formed by students advocating for safer schools. About a dozen people showed up to pay their respects and honor the lives lost. Organizers lit nearly 90 LED candles, representing the number of young lives lost to gun violence in Texas since the Santa Fe shooting. As they read out the names, they turned off the candles, until only one remained lit, symbolising hope for change.
The candlelight vigil was held outside the governor's mansion, across from the capitol, to send a message to state leaders that the community will not forget what happened and that more needs to be done to protect students. The shooting at Santa Fe High School had resulted in 10 fatalities and 10 injuries, with a devastating impact on the community. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered flags at the capitol and in Santa Fe to be lowered to half-staff to commemorate the somber anniversary.
The Student Empowerment Association, led by Pearl Morosky and Kylie Baber-Gonzalez, worked diligently to organise the vigil. They met to finalise the list of names to be read and prepare their speeches. Baber-Gonzalez emphasised the reality of gun violence, stating, "It could happen anywhere." Morosky, who had experienced the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, shared her perspective: "We feel that the best way to honor these victims is to try to prevent this type of thing from happening again."
The candlelight vigil provided an opportunity for the community to come together, grieve for the victims, and reinforce their commitment to preventing such tragedies in the future. It served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence and the need for stronger gun regulations. The organisers' efforts reflected their dedication to honouring the victims and advocating for a safer future for students in Texas and beyond.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott joins candlelight vigil for victims of First Baptist Church shooting
On November 5, 2017, Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and injuring about 20 others. Just a few hours after the tragic incident, Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined more than a hundred local residents in a candlelight vigil outside the church. The mourners held candles and prayed for the victims and their loved ones.
The candlelight vigil was an emotionally charged event, with Governor Abbott seen consoling Ann Montgomery, a Sunday school teacher at the First Baptist Church. President Donald Trump, who was in Japan at the time, passed on his condolences to the Sutherland Springs community, saying, "Victims and their families were in their sacred place of worship. We cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel."
Governor Abbott proclaimed November 12 as a day of prayer in Texas to honor and remember the lives lost in the shooting. He also encouraged people across the state and country to join him in a moment of silence at 11:30 am that day. The proclamation was signed at a community prayer gathering at Floresville High School, which was also attended by Vice President Mike Pence.
The investigation into the suspect's motive was ongoing at the time. However, Governor Abbott stated that there appeared to be "a connection" between Devin Kelley and the Sutherland Springs church, suggesting that the shooting was not a random act. Abbott also addressed the issue of gun violence, acknowledging that current laws should have prevented Kelley from purchasing a weapon. He emphasized the need to work together to overcome evil and make schools safer.
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Candlelight vigil held for Robb Elementary School victims
On Wednesday evening, hundreds of people gathered at the Uvalde Memorial Park amphitheater for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting. The event, which was hosted by the families of the victims, marked one year since the tragic day that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers. The crowd, illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight, began the vigil with a prayer before releasing butterflies into the night.
Among those in attendance were survivors of the shooting, including children who had been in Room 112, one of the two classrooms targeted by the gunman. Arnulfo "Arnie" Reyes, a teacher who was also in the school at the time of the shooting, was present as well. The invited speakers addressed the audience with heartfelt words, songs, and performances. Photojournalist Tamir Kalifa, who had spent the past year documenting the victims' families, performed two songs: "Blackbird" by the Beatles and "Jackie's Rock," an original song written in honor of Jackie Cazares, one of the fourth graders who lost their lives in the shooting.
The candlelight vigil provided a space for the community to come together and mourn as one. It served as a reminder of the deep wounds inflicted by the tragedy and the ongoing journey towards healing. The event also highlighted the continued call for action to address gun violence and the need for legislative changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In addition to the vigil in Uvalde, other gatherings were held across the state to honor the victims. In San Diego, a vigil organized by the local anti-gun violence group, Safer CA PAC, took place at Waterfront Park. Professor Starla Lewis from San Diego Mesa College spoke at the gathering, emphasizing the value of life and the need to curb gun violence. Pastor Rebecca Littlejohn from La Mesa also shared powerful words, underscoring the urgency for legislative action to address the issue.
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Student Empowerment Association hosts candlelight vigil for victims of gun violence in Texas
The Student Empowerment Association (SEA) hosted a candlelight vigil in Austin, Texas, to honour the victims of gun violence in the state. The vigil took place outside the governor's mansion, across from the capitol, and was organised by Pearl Morosky, a sophomore at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, and Kylie Baber-Gonzalez, a junior at Austin High School. The pair organised the event to honour the victims of the Santa Fe shooting and others who have lost their lives to gun violence in Texas.
About a dozen people attended the vigil, where nearly 90 LED candles were lit to represent the young lives lost to gun violence in Texas since the Santa Fe shooting. One by one, the organisers read out the names of the victims and turned off a candle for each name. At the end, one candle remained lit, symbolising hope that such tragedies would not recur.
Morosky and Baber-Gonzalez founded the SEA after the Parkland High School shooting, and three months later, the Santa Fe shooting occurred. The association advocates for safer schools and pushes for stronger gun regulations. While they promote stricter gun laws, the organisers of the vigil were careful not to make the event too political. They chose the location to send a message that they want state leaders to continue working to ensure the safety of students.
The SEA vigil was one of several held in Texas to honour victims of gun violence. In San Diego, vigils were held in Balboa Park and Waterfront Park to remember the 19 children and two teachers killed at Robb Elementary School. Tragically, a candlelight vigil in Baytown, Texas, was the site of a drive-by shooting, where one person was killed and at least 13 others were injured.
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Frequently asked questions
Hundreds of people gathered at the Uvalde Memorial Park amphitheater to honor the 19 children and two teachers killed in the shooting.
Yes, Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined more than a hundred local residents in a candlelight vigil outside the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, where the shooting took place.
Yes, in addition to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, President Donald Trump passed on his condolences to the Sutherland Springs community.
Residents of Santa Fe, Texas, gathered at the First Bank in Santa Fe for a vigil to honor the victims.
About a dozen people showed up to remember the lives lost in the Santa Fe High School shooting.
