Candlelight Vigil - June 25

LWV ABC joined with Transformative Circle and Empower Diaspora to plan and host a candlelight vigil for House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and dog Gilbert, and to show support Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette following their shooting on June 14.  North Metro Indivisible participated as well.  The vigil was held at the Coon Rapids Community Center; about 75 people attended.  Quiet cello music was provided by Yuna Yong Chen of Coon Rapids.   Ian Oundo from Empower Diaspora provided remarks and Betsy Kiekhafer from Transformative Circle and LWV ABC led the group in meditations.   

KARE11 covered the event.  The video above is their story, aired in the 10pm news on June 25.  

Attendees signed Minnesota State flags for the Hortman and Hoffman families.  These flags were taken to the State Capitol where they will be forwarded to the families. 

Thanks to Julie Trude for sewing cloth envelopes for each flag for a nicer presentation.   The flag for the Hortman's is shown below with other memorial materials outside the House Chamber, but the flag was taken to the House Information office where they will forward it to the family.  

The memorial display at the Capitol for Representative Hortman is quite moving, with so many people having come by to pay their respects.  

And best wishes to Senator Hoffman and Yvette for a continued recovery.  We were very glad to see that they are both out of the hospital now.