A vigil, acknowledging the victims of racial injustice, was held Saturday morning outside West Hartford Town Hall.

Organizers Gail Crockett (left) and Rosemarie Tate. Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

By Ronni Newton. Photos by John Lyons

Although there were no rallying cries, the silent vigil held Saturday morning outside West Hartford Town Hall nevertheless made a powerful impact.

Spread out on the lawn of West Hartford Town Hall, roughly 100 members of the community stood holding posters  with the names of those victims, as well as other messages.

The event was organized by Gail Crockett and Rosemarie Tate from West Hartford’s Democratic Town Committee. In attendance were many local Democratic elected officials, including state Sen. Derek Slap; state Reps. Jillian Gilchrest and Tammy Exum; Mayor Shari Cantor; Town Council members Carol Anderson Blanks, Liam Sweeney, and Ben Wenograd; Board of Education Chair Deb Polun; Board of Education member Ari Steinberg; and Probate Judge Owen Eagan.

“We will stand in strong but silent solidarity as concerned citizens who believe in equity and justice for our communities and in our nation. Our signs will bear witness to the names of those men and women, primarily Black people, who have been the victims of rogue police tactics and vigilantes,” Crockett said in advance of the vigil.

“Together, we condemn any and all violence that only exacerbates racial division, unrest and injustice. We also commend all those who serve in decent community policing and reject this brutal misconduct. United we stand, divided we fall.”

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Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor at the Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Organizers Gail Crockett (left) and Rosemarie Tate. Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest at the Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Rosemarie Tate was one of the organizer of the vigil on Sept. 12. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons

Sept. 12, 2020 silent vigil. Photo credit: John Lyons