Strength in Peace Candlelight Vigil draws nearly 200 community members

MUNCIE, Ind. – Nearly 200 Muncie residents gathered in Canan Commons Sunday night to stand in solidarity with Charlottesville, Va., after violence there left three people dead and dozens injured.

The "Strength in Peace Candlelight Vigil" started at 7 p.m. at the downtown Muncie park with a wide cross section of religious affiliations and races from the Muncie community coming out to show support for love and hope for peace.

The vigil was intended "to display strength through peace and unity in intolerance of hate," according to a post on the city's Facebook page.

When Bob Ball, pastor with Blood and Fire Ministries, received a call from Mayor Dennis Tyler to lead the group in prayer, he knew that it would have an impact on the community.

“We all know we want to have a place that's safe to live and stand up for what's right,” Ball said.

After Ball opened the vigil, religious and community leaders took the time to speak about their thoughts on not only Charlottesville, but on the state of affairs across the community, country and world.

Ball said that the diversity of the group that came out Sunday night was important for the community.

“We are a diverse community and if we can come together and stand up for what's right we are all better off,” Ball said.

Many thought the vigil was a step in the right direction, but that it was a just a start toward solving the host of issues regarding race and ideology facing communities across the country.

“We still have work to do,” said Yvonne Thompson, director of the Muncie Human Rights Commission.

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Thompson says that beyond events like ones in Muncie, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Richmond and many other communities across the state held Sunday, it will take hard conversations with community members and family members to see actionable change.

Thompson highlighted several Muncie groups that try to have honest conversations about race and other differences including the human rights commission, Muncie’s R.A.C.E (Reconciliation Achieved through Community Engagement) and others.

A moment of silence was held before the vigil ended around 8 p.m.