Emotional vigil held in Denver synagogue

Political, civic and faith leaders led an emotional vigil at Temple Emanuel on Sunday evening in remembrance of the 11 people killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue over the weekend.

The vigil was led by Rabbi Joseph R. Black and several interfaith leaders and included speeches from Mayor Michael Hancock, Gov. John Hickenlooper, the police chiefs of Aurora and Denver, and organizers from Jewish advocacy groups.

Approximately 3,000 people attended the vigil, said Scott Levin, regional director of the AntiDefamation League. Many had to sit on the ground or stand in overflow rooms.

A man armed with an assault riffle and several handguns walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue in a Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh, killing 11 and wounding six Saturday morning. The suspect reportedly shouted antiSemitic comments as he gunned down worshipers.

“This is not OK,” Hickenlooper said from the podium.

Echoing a message of unity, the governor added an allusion to the need for gun control.

“We must create the rules and regulations to safeguard our community,” Hickenlooper said.

Speakers from the Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Jewish faiths evoked the memories of other mass shootings that have taken place in houses of worship.

“We must firmly stop white supremacy,” Colorado Muslim Society general counsel Qusair Mohamedbhai said.

The loudest applause was reserved for condemnation of “political leaders” who sow division.

“I know as an elected official, what I say matters,” Hancock said. “I would rather promote a civic society than tear people apart.”

The crowd responded with a standing ovation to his words and other calls for civility from political leaders.

Adding to Hancock’s message, Interfaith Alliance executive director Rev. Amanda Henderson said “visceral division” has been propagated by leaders. The crowd responded with chants of “Vote, Vote, Vote.”

Henderson listed the killing of two AfricanAmerican men in Kentucky, bombs sent to prominent critics of President Donald Trump and the shooting in Pittsburgh as events stemming from a “festering wound” across society.

The applause turned to tears as the names of those killed and a Hebrew prayer echoed through the congregation.

AntiSemitism has been on the rise across the state and county, according to the AntiDefamation League. Nazi imagery and white nationalists leaflets have been recently spotted across Colorado.