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Group stands in solidarity with Charlottesville

Posted at 10:51 PM, Aug 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-15 11:00:22-04

An interfaith vigil drew hundreds to the Universal Unitarian Church in Naples Monday night, to honor a woman killed during violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia.

The event, put on by Showing Up for Racial Justice, was also meant to take a stand against racism.  

“Among people that do ant-racism work this was not shocking and unexpected,” SURJ organizer Ellen Hemrick said she set up the rally after hearing about protestors clashing with white supremacists in Charlottesville.

“We wake up every day with the haunting of people hanging on a tree.  We wake up every day, we wake up every day hearing that something happened to our loved ones,” said Yvette Stafford-Jones, who attended the vigil.

Speakers, which included clergy from several different faiths, urged those who attended to speak out against racism every time they see it.

“We’re not going nowhere, we’re still here," said Stafford-Jones

SURJ is hosting another rally at Centennial Park in Ft. Myers on Tuesday, beginning at 5:00 pm.