Community to gather for
vigil following hate crime in Flagstaff
June 29 Candlelight Vigil
in support of the LGBT community
6:30 p.m., Flagstaff City
Hall
Equality Arizona will be holding a vigil for last Sunday's anti-gay
hate crime in downtown Flagstaff this coming Sunday, June 29 at 6:30
p.m. in front of Flagstaff City Hall on the corner of Rt. 66 and
Humphreys Street. The vigil will begin at City Hall. Participants will
walk north up the sidewalk along Humphreys Street, turn right on Aspen
Street, and walk on the sidewalk several blocks to the corner of San
Francisco and Aspen where the assault occurred, and then proceed back
to City Hall along San Francisco and Rt. 66.
Event supporters include First Congregational Church of Flagstaff-UCC,
Coconino County Democratic Party, Northern Arizona Pride Association,
Friends of Flagstaff's Future, Planned Parenthood of Arizona and PFLAG
Flagstaff. Vigil speakers include: Rev. Bill Guise of FCCF-UCC, PFLAG
Flagstaff President Georgia Duncan, Northern Arizona Pride Association
President Kat Jim, and Friends of Flagstaff's Future Board Member
Shelley Silbert.
Please join us to show the community that Flagstaff residents stand
firmly against hate violence and that we support LGBT friends, family,
neighbors, visitors, and co-workers. Hate crimes affect everyone, not
just the victims, by creating a climate of fear and intimidation.
As Equality Arizona Executive Director Barbara McCullough-Jones says,
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We
stand with them and the Flagstaff community in calling for justice in
this case. Equality Arizona will continue to partner with city leaders
to create an environment where everyone who visits, lives or works in
Flagstaff is safe and free from bias and discrimination, regardless of
sexual orientation or gender identity/expression
."
We will provide a limited supply of candles for vigil participants.
Feel free to bring your own candles and signs that express words of
encouragement for the victims, support for the LGBT community and
expressions against hate violence of any kind. Rainbow flags, peace
flags and other colorful items are also encouraged. Flagstaff police
officers will be present to provide security. Equality Arizona
volunteers will be wearing safety vests and reminding people to stay
on the sidewalk during the march and obey all traffic laws.
For more information, please contact Flagstaff Equality Team Leader
Sarah Friedmann at sarah.friedmann@gmail.com or Political
Chair Lisa
Rayner at lisa@lisarayner.com.
