Vigil to be Held Sunday, May 29, 5 p.m. on Steps of First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
OLD LYME, CT – UPDATED 9am: The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL) and the Lyme-Old Lyme Partnership for Social Justice announced Friday, May 27, that the organizations would hold a bell-ringing vigil and call to action on Sunday, May 29.
The vigil will be held on the front steps of the church starting at 5 p.m.
The bell in the church steeple will be rung 32 times – once for each of the victims of the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., Laguna Woods, Calif., and Uvalde, Texas.
The community is invited to attend.
Speakers at the vigil are expected to include:
- Kevin Booker from the New London City Council
- Principal Lindsey Thompson from the Mary Hooker Magnet School in Hartford
- Judge Kevin Washington from Windsor, Conn.
- Rev. Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery from Sacred Intelligence in New London
- Rev. Steve Jungkeit from FCCOL and the Partnership for Social Justice
In announcing the community vigil, Jungkeit said, “In the past, small New England villages like ours used bells as a way to call people out of their homes to mark times of worship, celebration and mourning. We are invoking that tradition again on Sunday, calling the entire community to come join us as we remember the 32 individuals who lost their lives to the recent gun violence in Buffalo, N.Y., Laguna Woods, Calif., and Uvalde, Texas.”
Jungkeit continued, “It’s an opportunity to come together and grieve as a community – to voice our shared desire for a society where we protect people, not guns, and where horrific killings like this no longer happen.”
As a grandmother and mother of teachers, I would like to ask all local leaders, particularly Republicans, what they are personally doing to influence their constituents and other local, state, and national leaders to adopt a comprehensive public health, risk reduction approach to gun violence. What are you doing to dispel pernicious and unfounded ideas such as “Guns don’t kill people,” “Mentally ill individuals are to blame,” “We need more good guys with a gun,” “We need to ‘harden’ schools,” “It’s too soon,” “More laws won’t stop mass shootings,” “We have an unlimited right to bear arms,” “Don’t bring politics into it,” “We don’t need research,” and “Nothing can be done.” You are leaders. Be brave and lead
Many believe in pro life but it seems they really mean pro birth. Is it more important to protect an embryo than a ten year old?
We apologize in advance for sharing these troubling remarks, but TX Senator Ted Cruz has told the attendees at the NRA convention in Houston that “More children would die if AR-15 rifles were banned.” God save the United States of America.
We were there. Very moving, but very frightening.
This morning in “The Day”:
“Authorities said a 26-year-old man was in custody after one person was killed and seven people were injured in a shooting early Sunday at an outdoor festival in eastern Oklahoma.”
“Senate GOP blocks domestic terrorism bill, gun policy debate”
Another prayer: God save the United States of America.