Hundreds of people gathered for an impromptu candlelight vigil on Wednesday night following the hateful and tragic events of the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Assembled on the University of Virginia’s campus “lawn,” thousands of people paid an emotional tribute to the late Heather Heyer following her memorial services on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old paralegal was violently killed during what was supposed to be a “peaceful protest” on Saturday, after a 20-year-old neo-nazi supporter drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters. The crash killed Heyer and left more than 19 others injured.
Moments of silence were also held for two Virginia state troopers who died when their helicopter crashed while monitoring the white nationalist rally.
The candlelight vigil went beyond paying tribute to the deceased. It was a demonstration of unity. One nation under God, in the exact place where nearly 500 “Unite the Right” extremists had gathered with tiki torches and a much different demonstration just four days prior.
In videos shared across Twitter, the crowd can be heard singing “This Land Is Your Land,” and “Good Old Song,” the university’s alma mater anthem.
The crowd just sang “Good Old Song” about just as loud as at Scott Stadium. #Charlotteville pic.twitter.com/iJSS6N0Wc7
— Preston Willett (@PrestonWillett) August 17, 2017
The huge crowd marched peacefully together along the same campus path as the terrorist groups that took over the town this weekend. But a much different picture was painted from the one of hate and fear that’s been plastered across our news screens this week.
Similar vigils were also held in Philadelphia; Akron, Ohio.; Nassau, N.Y.; and other cities across the country last night.
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