Against a backdrop of increasing hate speech and extreme rhetoric broadcast by right-wing groups against those not sharing their political beliefs, last week 20 people were brutally shot in a mass-killing that injured congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and left six dead, including a 9-year-old child. New York's progressive community is responding to this hatred and violence by holding a candlelight vigil at Union Square this Tuesday, January 11, at 7 PM.
"It's very important that we not allow this tragic moment to pass unmarked," said activist and community organizer Yetta Kurland (pictured left). "In the context of hatred and vitriol that has arisen over the past two years, such an attack was predictable and almost inevitable. We have to find a way to turn our sadness and our anger into positive action."
Natasha Dillon, of the group Queer Rising, said, "What happened this weekend was not the beginning, but was just one horrendous act of terrorism against Americans that believe justice and equality is owed to all. The call for hatred and violence on Americans is something members of the LGBTQ community have been victims of for many years. We hope the events in Tucson become a lesson for us all that bullying, exclusiveness, and violence are not the America our forefathers dreamed of."
Event organizer Josh Wellman said, "It's important that we find a way toward a more civil discourse, and it's also important that we not pretend that it's 'both sides' engaging in the same level of extreme rhetoric. Only one side is talking about 'second amendment remedies' and urging constituents to be 'armed and dangerous.' This is an opportunity for the conservative movement to reassess the nature of the rhetoric it has employed - and it's an opportunity for both sides to publicly commit ourselves to a civilized conversation about our collective future."
The event will take place at 7pm at the South side of Union Square. More information about the event can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155705237815213