OAKLAND Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – Oakland's Chinatown community remembered recent victims killed in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay and East Oakland during a candlelight vigil on Wednesday.
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The gathering, which was held at Wilma Chan Park at 810 Jackson St., offered a chance for the Oakland community to come together in their grief. During the vigil, all the names of the victims from California's three recent mass shootings were read aloud, followed by a bell chime.
"People needed the space, our communities needed it, we needed the space and so we breathed it to life," said Dr. Jennifer Tran, one of the organizers of the event.
Many arrived early, spreading flowers over a small impromptu shrine. The diverse crowd, both in age and background, lit candles and incense.
"It's not only about my community, I should also support other communities, but it's that sense of coming together that we do spend together," one woman told KCBS Radio.
Although the event focused on remembering the victims, a number of people took the opportunity to reflect on the ongoing struggles surrounding Asian hate and gun violence. "I wanted to bring my daughters to this event because they need to know what is going on out there to learn about what is going on in our society," a father told KCBS Radio.
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