The Bridge Anti-Discrimination Network held a memorial and candlelight vigil at the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen over the weekend to memorialize lives lost to racial hate crimes.
It was a breezy night for the event, but that didn’t stop mourners from lighting candles and spreading out across the courthouse lawn.
“Tonight, we welcome you into a space where we aim to honor the lives that we have lost as a nation to racially-targeted hate crimes and brutality,” said Bridge Interim President Erin Floyd.
Pastor Mark Schloneger of Berkey Mennonite Church and Bridge board member Izaete Nafziger both spoke at the memorial, offering testimonials of racial reckoning.
“As a Black woman and an immigrant, many times, I have been discriminated against based on the color of my skin and the accent of my voice,” Nafziger said.
In addition to the memorial and vigil, the Bridge Network organized a voter registration table and a performance by local band Mechudos y Peludos.
Though some counterprotest was expected, the memorial remained peaceful.
Contact Gemma at gdicarlo@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @gemma_dicarlo
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