The Vigil for Orlando drew a crowd of anywhere from 600 to 900 people, marching through the streets of Providence from The Dark Lady on Snow Street to the steps of the State House. Holding candles and signs, members of the LGBTQ community, with family friends and allies, sang songs and chatted. The mood was both somber and joyous in turn. As the sun set, the sight of hundreds of candles moving through the city streets was hauntingly beautiful.
On the steps of the State House, speakers, including Mayor Jorge Elorza, spoke of the history of violence against LGBTQ people their long struggle for civil rights, and what needs to be done in the future to prevent these kinds of terrorist hate crimes from taking place.
You can view the entirety of the march here in the video below, as well as listen to all the speakers in the videos that follow the photos.
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Steve Ahlquist is an award-winning journalist, writer, artist and founding member of the Humanists of Rhode Island, a non-profit group dedicated to reason, compassion, optimism, courage and action. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of any organization of which he is a member.
His photos and video are usable under the Creative Commons license. Free to share with credit.
"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” - Elie Weisel
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." - Desmond Tutu
"There comes a time when neutrality and laying low become dishonorable. If you’re not in revolt, you’re in cahoots. When this period and your name are mentioned, decades hence, your grandkids will look away in shame." - David Brooks
The Vigil for Orlando drew a crowd of anywhere from 600 to 900 people, marching through the streets of Providence from The Dark Lady on Snow Street to the steps of the State House. Holding candles and signs, members of the LGBTQ community, with family friends and allies, sang songs and chatted. The mood was both somber and joyous in turn. As the sun set, the sight of hundreds of candles moving through the city streets was hauntingly beautiful.
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