Oxford holds vigil on the Square

Organizers Rachel Johnson and LaToya Faulk open up Saturday’s vigil on the Square.

Oxford community members leaned on one another for support and comfort during the peaceful protest and vigil for the fallen Dallas law enforcement members and recent victims of police shootings Saturday night.

Victims remembered included Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, along with others as well as the officers Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Lorne Ahrens and Michael Smith who were killed in Dallas. Community members read their names and biographies in alphabetical order.

The turnout was so large organizers ran out of candles to give participants.

“We did not expect this to be such a large crowd,” vigil organizer LaToya Faulk said. “It is really inspiring to see so many people from our community come together tonight.”

Vigil organizer and speaker Rachel Johnson said with violence in the world today, including the attacks in Nice, France and Turkey, it is important to for people to come together.

“As you stand next to all these people tonight, you know that your community is grieving right alongside you,” Johnson said. “But we’re not just here to grieve. We’re also here to protest. We’re here to protest violence.”

Faulk added the Oxford vigil had standards to keep. By attending the event, protestors agreed to an unwritten agreement to be courteous, loving and understanding with one another.

“Violence isn’t the answer and we must find a safe place to grieve and then get to work,” Faulk said. “We all have a part to play in making change. Tonight, we hope you feel inspired and that you take the energy and emotions you are feeling and turn them into solutions, however small they may seem.”

Towards the end of the ceremony, the surrounding law enforcement officers were thanked for their attendance and given a round of applause.

Pastor Gail Stratton gave the final prayer before attendees dispersed from the crowd.

“We need each other, we need each other to survive,” Stratton said in her prayer. “Help us to look beyond our fears and help us to bring creativity to challenges before us as we lift up a vision where black lives matter … gay lives matter, and when that happens all lives will matter.”

Stratton said citizens should try to hang on to a future where children can live and not worry about fear and hatred.

After “Amens” were said, one protestor turned to the person next to him and said, “Now this is how it’s done.”

Photos by Ariel Cobbert