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Tag: prayer vigil

  • Seattle community holds prayer vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk

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    Around 200 people gathered in Seattle for a prayer vigil to mourn the death of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, who was murdered while speaking at a Utah college on Wednesday.

    The vigil, organized by Pursuit NW Pastor Russell Johnson, served as a tribute to Kirk’s impact on the conservative movement.

    “He was a hero to me, he was a hero in our movement,” Johnson added. “He ended up paying with his life for the high crime of daring to voice a different opinion than what might be popular in culture.”

    Representative Jim Walsh, Washington GOP chairman, praised Kirk’s dedication, stating, “Charlie Kirk stood for living the reality of freedom of speech and what our state constitution calls absolute freedom of conscience.”

    For many people in Western Washington, Kirk was a voice for young conservatives through his organization, Turning Point USA.

    “I disagree with Charlie with a lot of issues, but the important thing is we have discourse, and we talk about the issues. And I just think that’s what makes Charlie so special,” said Kirkland resident Jalen Yoter.

    Yoter expressed respect for Kirk’s approach to controversial conversations, despite many people disagreeing with Kirk on several issues.

    “He would encourage the people who disagreed with him to step forward and have that dialogue. Because all the worst events in America happen when we stop talking to each other,” Yoter added.

    Sierra Elliott, vice chair of Washington State Young Republicans, emphasized the need for political change through non-violent means.

    “If you want change politically, that can be settled at the ballot box, that just violence is never the answer,” she stated. Elliott also spoke on continuing Kirk’s legacy, saying, “Just because people disagree with us doesn’t mean we need to just fold our cards and say we’re done.”

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  • Faith leaders call for unity amid D.C.’s law enforcement surge – WTOP News

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    About 100 people crammed the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza in Northwest D.C. on Friday afternoon, calling for unity against the federal surge by President Donald Trump.

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    Faith leaders call for unity amid DC’s federal surge

    About 100 people crammed the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza in Northwest D.C. on Friday afternoon, calling for unity against the federal surge by President Donald Trump.

    The “Multi-Faith Prayer Vigil for Healing and Justice” event brought together religious leaders from around the region to speak on their disapproval of the Trump administration’s recent actions in D.C., including the growing number of law enforcement officials and the displacement of the city’s homeless population.

    “The power that is animated by hate can never, never, ever triumph over a power that is built with love,” said Rabbi Aaron Alexander, of Adas Israel Congregation.

    During the prayer vigil, attendees brought signs denouncing the Trump administration’s actions and asked for the president to end his actions. Federal authorities have set up checkpoints around the city, sometimes asking people for their immigration status and detaining them.

    DC residents need to fight back

    Religious leaders called on residents to fight back against intimidating actions.

    “But it’s going to take far more than protests to reclaim the beauty of this place,” Alexander said.

    Pastor Donna Claycomb Sokol, of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, spoke out against the removal of the city’s homeless population, stating their security was set aside “all in the name of beauty.”

    Joani Horchler traveled from Cheverly, Maryland, to be part of the vigil, carrying a sign attacking Trump’s claim that the surge is designed to improve the District’s crime levels: “If you cared about crime, you wouldn’t have attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.”

    “Now, he is going to take over D.C., and it’s not right,” she said.

    D.C.’s shadow representative Oye Owolewa told WTOP he was proud to see the number of people in the crowd, which led him to interrupt the proceedings to get them off the road and into the plaza. He added that the amount of minority faces voicing support for D.C. statehood and against Trump’s actions is a strong contrast to the description of “elderly white hippies” White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called D.C. protesters.

    “It was really good to see a crowd of people who looked like me but are united on a common mission, which is controlling our own destiny,” Owolewa said.

    The crowd was encouraged to stay in contact with their faith-based communities for additional events in the future. Priscilla Soto said she hopes events like the vigil could unite more people than those who don’t like Trump.

    “I would like to reach out to all those people who are supporting him and hope that they come to the point that enough is enough,” she said.

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    Jose Umana

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  • ‘One big family’: Dozens gather at vigil in Hartland for six victims, displaced survivors

    ‘One big family’: Dozens gather at vigil in Hartland for six victims, displaced survivors

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    Just after 5 a.m. last Friday, Oct. 20, authorities responded to a four-family apartment building in flames. It happened near Oxford Drive and Mansfield Court.Police told WISN 12 News they discovered six bodies inside the burning building. “You’re just in despair, because you don’t prepare for something like this,” said Village President, Jeffrey Pfannerstill.Police said Jessica McKisick, her 12 and 14-year-old daughters and her three-year-old twin boys were found inside with a single gunshot wound.Police said Connor McKisick was also found dead inside with a single gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.”I was on a walk and I could smell it and I knew it was really bad. I walk early in the morning. Horrific,” said Marlene Millevolte. The tragedy is impacting even the youngest in Hartland. “I teach young students at my studio here in town and they were coming in from school after school, asking, ‘what’s being done, why isn’t anything being done?’” Millevolte said.A week following the tragedy, Millevolte, with the help of Pfannerstill and St. Charles Catholic Church held a vigil in Nixon Park. Dozens of community members gathered to pray, to sing and to mourn.”Just come together, show some hope, be a community and love each other. Letting these people know that we stand behind them and we’re not going to let them down, even if they were displaced. We’re like one big family,” Pfannerstill said.Three families that lived in the apartment building were displaced by the fire. Pfannerstill said anyone who wishes to help them can make donations to the Village of Hartland, which they will split evenly among the survivors.

    HARTLAND, Wis. —

    Just after 5 a.m. last Friday, Oct. 20, authorities responded to a four-family apartment building in flames. It happened near Oxford Drive and Mansfield Court.

    Police told WISN 12 News they discovered six bodies inside the burning building.

    “You’re just in despair, because you don’t prepare for something like this,” said Village President, Jeffrey Pfannerstill.

    Police said Jessica McKisick, her 12 and 14-year-old daughters and her three-year-old twin boys were found inside with a single gunshot wound.

    Police said Connor McKisick was also found dead inside with a single gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.

    “I was on a walk and I could smell it and I knew it was really bad. I walk early in the morning. Horrific,” said Marlene Millevolte.

    The tragedy is impacting even the youngest in Hartland.

    “I teach young students at my studio here in town and they were coming in from school after school, asking, ‘what’s being done, why isn’t anything being done?’” Millevolte said.

    A week following the tragedy, Millevolte, with the help of Pfannerstill and St. Charles Catholic Church held a vigil in Nixon Park. Dozens of community members gathered to pray, to sing and to mourn.

    “Just come together, show some hope, be a community and love each other. Letting these people know that we stand behind them and we’re not going to let them down, even if they were displaced. We’re like one big family,” Pfannerstill said.

    Three families that lived in the apartment building were displaced by the fire. Pfannerstill said anyone who wishes to help them can make donations to the Village of Hartland, which they will split evenly among the survivors.

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