A Candle in the Darkness: Stamford Vigil Calls for End to Gun Violence

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the tragedy in Newtown, more than 20 people gathered in front of Stamford's Ferguson Library Thursday evening to remember lost lives and call for an end to gun violence.

Wendy Skratt of the ENOUGH Campaign, one of the evening's event organizers, said the evening was an attempt to draw more attention to gun violence in a city that has been touched by it far too often, and a way to remember Sandy Hook Elementary without drawing more people to a town asking for respect and privacy during their period of grieving.

"Stamford deals with more gun violence than a lot of the surrounding towns," Skratt said. "And with a new mayor who has indicated he's going to focus on reducing gun violence in the city, we wanted to show him this is something we are ready to stand up and fight for with him."

The Vigil of Hope was a combined effort between ENOUGH, the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, Connecticut Against Gun Violence and the Newtown Alliance. Leslie Asllani belongs to many of those groups and said she was proud to stand out in the freezing cold to try and draw more attention from passers-by to the plight of gun violence.

"I began to really get involved in the movement against gun violence after the Newtown incident," said Asllani, whose co-worker was best friends with one of the families that lost a child in the shooting. "It hit our circle personally. My daughter's a teacher. I have grandchildren. Something needs to be done, we need sensible gun laws."

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman of Temple Beth El said it was about doing what one could given the circumstances in which they found themselves with the resources and paths of action available to them.

"There's so little we can do to ease the pain of those who have suffered loss," he said. "Gun violence is a part of what Newtown survivors must cope with now. This one thing, I can do. It's a small sacrifice to get a little cold that I may show my support."