A vigil was held Friday, July 8, 2016, in the Numen Lumen Pavilion to mourn those killed this week in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights and Dallas.
Students, faculty, staff and friends sat in chairs and lined the back walls of the Sacred Space during the noon vigil that offered time for mourning, reflection and prayers.
“It’s amazing how many of us are here together right now,” said Meir Goldstein, associate chaplain for Jewish life. “I think it speaks to the pain and frustration and the sorrow. We are all walking around feeling broken and we’re coming together as a community to share.”
There were prayers from several different religions and readings shared, including one from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book “Why We Can’t Wait” and from a prepared meditation Pope Francis gave at a prayer vigil in May. They were all offered in an effort to provide solace to those grappling with news of three separate shooting across the nation this week.
The first was Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed by white police officers investigating a call of an armed man allegedly threatening people outside of a convenience store. The second was Wednesday in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Philando Castile, a 32-year-old black man, was killed after a white police officer open fired during a traffic stop. In both cases, videos that captured the shootings were shared on social media.
On Thursday evening in Dallas, during what was planned as a peaceful protest over the recent shootings, five police officers were killed and seven were wounded as a result of sniper fire. Two civilians were also injured.
“We don’t necessarily have the answers,” Goldstein said. “But we do know that being together we are stronger. Together we can comfort each other in times of sorrow, and we can rebuild and we can rejoice in times of joy. It feels like the social contract is coming apart at the seams but being here and seeing all your faces and feeling your presence is comforting and reassuring.”
In addition to listening and having silent time for reflection, those in attendance were invited to the altar to light a candle.
“Within each of us God implants a divine spark,” said Jan Register, program assistant in the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. “Each of us has the obligation to tend this spark and fan it into a flame that will light up one’s own life and the lives of others.
“A lit candle can be snuffed out or it can burn out or it can kindle other candles. When the flame is passed to others, the flame will continue to burn long after the original candle has been extinguished.”