CAIR To Host Candlelight Vigil In Honor Of Lives Lost In Atlanta Spa Shootings

Supporters across Oklahoma City are holding a vigil Wednesday night in honor of the eight people killed in the Atlanta spa shootings.

The vigil will be at 6:30 p.m. at Military Park. Its main goals will be to remember the lives lost and have a meaningful discussion on how to address racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Multiple groups will come together during the vigil, including the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the YWCA of Oklahoma City, and the Asian District Cultural Association.

The civil rights director for CAIR-Oklahoma, Veronica Laizure says this is a time that the community needs to focus on being together and letting the AAPI community know that Oklahoma City stands with them.

"To show that we are willing to come out and show that we stand against hate and bigotry is a tremendously powerful move," said Laizure.

She says the response from the OKC community before the vigil has been surprising in a good way, and she's happy to see people stand up against hatred towards the AAPI community.

Wednesday's event will follow social distancing guidelines. Organizers are asking those coming to wear a mask.