The local chapter of a group formed in response to the Sandy Hook school shooting held a vigil for the 17 victims in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida on the Montana Capitol steps Tuesday night.
Around 60 people gathered in an arch around a podium on the Capitol steps as the name of each person killed in mid-February shooting was read aloud, followed by a moment of silence.
Reverend Robyn Morrison from Helena read the benediction.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight, as are the hearts of the nation and the world,” she said.
The vigil in Helena was organized by the by the Montana Moms Demand Action group, whose national counterpart formed in response the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown Connecticut in 2012.
The prayer Tuesday night will be followed by planned student walkouts across the country, including in Montana, to raise awareness of gun violence today.
