National vigil for gun violence victims will include two Sandy Hook youths
NEWTOWN — An annual vigil for victims of gun violence organized by a homegrown nonprofit will include two youths from Sandy Hook.
Because of ongoing concerns about the coronavirus, the Wednesday night event in Washington, D.C., will be limited to a small group of Newtown advocates, families of victims and survivors of gun violence from across the country, with an option for supporters to join the vigil on Facebook Live.
The ninth annual National
Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, organized by the Newtown Action Alliance and partners in the gun violence prevention movement, is planned for 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill in Washington.
“We went from completely virtual last year to being a mix of virtual and in person this year,” said Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance. “We are bringing about 20 family members and survivors from across the country, with no audience.”
Among the guests are Camille Paradis and Maggie
LaBanca, both members of the Junior Newtown Action Alliance.
“I try to create a program that lifts up the voices of the families,” Murray said. “It’s a time to honor the Sandy Hook victims as well as all the victims of gun deaths.”
Murray is referring to Dec. 14, the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, when 20 firstgraders and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
The program will include a video message from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Further details about the vigil can be found at the Newtown Action Alliance website.
“We’ve tried to create a foundation for youths to share their story and their pain, and to demand the change that is necessary to keep them and their families safe,” Murray said.