Oakland mayor booed at Lake Merritt vigil for fire victims

A heartbreaking day of identifying bodies and searching for the cause of the deadly warehouse fire in Oakland ended Monday in a mass candlelight vigil on the shores of Lake Merritt where some mourners took out their frustrations on Mayor Libby Schaaf.

Schaaf was among hundreds of people who gathered around a white pagoda on the north side of the lake, where they listened to tearful speeches from people close to the victims and encouraging words from Oakland officials.

Several speakers at the vigil Monday broke down or fought tears. The supportive mood was broken however when Schaaf stepped up to the podium and was greeted by a chorus of boos

The Grand Lake Theater has updated its marquee with a message mourning the victims of the fire at the Ghost Ship warehouse, and especifically Nicole R. Siegrist, 29, who went by the name Denalda Nicole Renae, who is still considered missing, as recovery efforts continue in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, December 5, 2016. less The Grand Lake Theater has updated its marquee with a message mourning the victims of the fire at the Ghost Ship warehouse, and especifically Nicole R. Siegrist, 29, who went by the name Denalda Nicole Renae, ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 142 Caption Close Oakland mayor booed at Lake Merritt vigil for fire victims 1 / 142 Back to Gallery

“It’s OK. This city is going to go through a lot of emotions and one of them is going to be anger,” Schaaf said. “It’s my job to hear that and feel that.”

The mourners hugged, cried and offered support for relatives and friends of the victims. Some people walked around holding “Free Hugs” signs. The crowd held aloft cell phones, plastic candles, glow sticks and other light sources, but generally avoided lighting candles in a show of deference to the fire victims.

“We took a devastating hit and all we want to do is honor those people and not put any blame on anybody,” said James Morales, 34, of Oakland, who got choked up thinking about the five friends he said he lost in the inferno. “It was like the Oakland electronic music underground 9/11. The people, the artists, the musicians are what make Oakland so tight.”

Thirty-six bodies have been found in the converted warehouse on 31st Avenue and International Boulevard, where dozens of partiers were trapped when a fire broke out Friday night during an electronic music performance by Golden Donna 100% Silk.

Todd Glieden, 50, of Castro Valley, came to the lake to offer support for several friends who knew fire victims.

“Look around us — the support is overwhelming,” Glieden said. “I think this shows the better part of Oakland for people who see so much bad.”

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley