Raleigh vigil held to bring attention to gun violence
RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- As part of a national day of remembrance for gun violence victims across America, several nonprofit groups held a vigil Thursday evening at Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. Their goal was to specifically recall the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence coordinated the evening's vigil with the assistance of MomsRising, NC AIDS Action Network, NC Council of Churches, Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham, NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, NC Justice Center, Parents of Murdered Children, and others.
"We do believe gun violence affects all of us. And where do we go from here?" asked the Rev. Byron Wade, pastor of Davie Street Presbyterian.
Attendance for the nearly 45-minute long vigil was in the dozens; and the thread was evident.
"I'm just tired of every time there's a mass shooting, people are up in arms for a little while and then it gets forgotten. And nothing gets changed in our society," Cindy Ingalls said.
She, along with others, are hopeful stricter gun control legislation is passed so America will be safer. She says the group is often misunderstood.
"People think because we're against gun violence, that we want to take away your guns," Ingalls told ABC11. "But that's not what most of us are here for."
Durham-born Alton Lucas was one of the featured speakers. Lucas lost his father when his mother was six-months pregnant with him. Tragedy struck again three years ago when Lucas' nephew was gunned down during NC Central's Homecoming.
"The difference between gun violence the actual act and the fact of gun violence and politics is there's a lot more politics going on in politics," Lucas said. "A lot of planning going on in gun violence."
Lucas, visibly passionate about the group's efforts, had some added criticism of elected officials; many of whom were blocks away at the state legislature involved in their own debacle.
"Look around now," Lucas said. "There's no senators here, no congressman, just the community."
