Vigils Held Across SoCal; Demonstrators Ask For End To Racial Violence
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Vigils and quiet marches were held across southern California Sunday to honor two black men who were killed last week by police in Louisiana and Minnesota.
The deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile led to nationwide protests, and were followed by a shooting in Dallas that killed five police officers.
Dozens of people demonstrated peacefully in Pan Pacific Park in the Fairfax District, calling for justice and an end to police shootings that target people of color.
Services at Oasis Church in Koreatown and Faithful Central Church in Inglewood were dedicated to the people of Dallas, Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights, Minnesota where the killings took place.
In a joint statement, the pastors of both churches said "all lives matter, black lives matter... the police who protect us daily, their lives matter as well."
A vigil was held at and at Bluff Park in Long Beach Sunday, that included protest signs, music and poetry.
Organizers said the vigil's purpose was to bring attention to excessive and deadly force used by police against people of color.
Organizers asked demonstrators to act peacefully.
In Pasadena, a silent prayer march was led by All Saints Church in Pasadena.
Church leaders said they would "suspend business as usual" to focus on violence that targets black people.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell released a statement Sunday, saying "Law enforcement has a responsibility to hold ourselves accountable for our actions to the letter of the law, but we ask communities to continue to engage with us, work with us to assist troubled individuals who may also pose a threat."
