WASHINGTON 鈥� Community members rallied together in Southeast D.C. for a vigil and prayer service Sunday, a few days after thehung several doors from Anne Beers Elementary School.
鈥淎 neighbor sent me a photo of the news, and I started crying,鈥� said Ayanna Smith, one of the event organizers. 鈥淲ithin 30 seconds, I emailed the mayor and the police chief and the community to share the photo, and we鈥檝e been getting organized.鈥�
Neighbors walked from East Washington Heights Baptist Church to the school, where the prayer service was held. Church leaders from nearby congregations as well as community leaders in the mayor鈥檚 administration such as D.C. police Chief Peter 草莓传媒ham and Council member Vincent Gray spoke words of encouragement and solidarity to the diverse crowd of more than 100 people and the greater Southeast community affected by the racist symbol.
草莓传媒ham said that although there are currently no updates on who hung the noose,聽鈥淭he entire police department is going to put every effort we can to find out who is responsible for this.鈥�
Police are considering it a suspected hate crime.
鈥淚n this city, we are inclusive and we don鈥檛 tolerate hate or ignorance by cowards,鈥� he said.
The elementary school’s principal, Gwendolyn Payton, told the crowd that there is 鈥渇ortune in this misfortune.鈥� She called on parents and community members to have conversations with children about how to approach such a situation.
Jeanne Contardo, who lives in the neighborhood and has two children who attend Anne Beers, said that she chose to live in the neighborhood because of how inclusive and diverse the community is.
She showed up with her children to the rally to teach them that 鈥測ou don鈥檛 get to complain if you don鈥檛 show up. We want them to understand that we live the values that we believe.”
Rev. George C. Gilbert, of Holy Trinity United Baptist Church in Northeast, was one of the many church leaders in attendance who prayed for the neighborhood in light of the many signs of blatant racism that have popped up in the District recently.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good for us to pray, but we also have to keep our eyes open, our mouths open and our feet walking,鈥� said Gilbert. 鈥淲e come in solidarity with you. We stand today not surprised.鈥�
