On Wednesday night, about 100 people gathered outside of Blind Bob’s in memory of the nine lives lost in the 2019 Oregon District mass shooting.
Community members took turns speaking about their loved ones and made calls to action. Malissa Thomas-St. Clair counted down how long the shooting took.
Thomas-St.Clair is the founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children. Her group, along with several others at the vigil, advocated for new common sense gun laws.
In the two years since the shooting, Ohio has instead passed a “stand your ground law” which expands a person’s use of lethal force in self-defense.
Victims’ family members, like Dion Green, urged attendees to continue fighting for gun reform. They plan on holding another memorial next year.
“It took 32 seconds for that perpetrator to take nine lives,” Thomas-St. Clair said. “But... I’m going to leave this pavement where that blood was shed with restoration, joy and happiness. Because today, we reclaim these streets.”
