Hundreds Gather for Candlelight Vigil in Santa Barbara

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Hundreds of Santa Barbara residents gathered for a candlelight vigil along Cabrillo Boulevard to mourn recent acts of violence and reject official accounts that contradict video evidence. The vigil, which included families, seniors, and celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, was marked by a sense of calm solidarity rather than angered chaos, as neighbors conversed and supported one another in the face of troubling national events.

Why it matters

The vigil represents a rejection of the notion that people must respond to injustice with either silence or explosion. Instead, the gathering demonstrated the power of 'calm solidarity' in the face of abuses of authority, highlighting the community's determination to uphold democratic values and the American spirit in troubled times.

The details

The vigil stretched for blocks in each direction from the Dolphin Fountain at Stearns Wharf, with participants holding candles and signs. Reporters on the scene, including a 22-year-old journalist covering the event, spoke with families, seniors, and even Ellen DeGeneres, who attended to show her support on her birthday. The vigil was marked by neighborly conversation and a sense of community, rather than angered chaos or performative rabble-rousing.

• The vigil took place on Monday evening.

What they’re saying