‘Witnessing to Hope’ prayer vigil draws 1,000 to Grand Army Plaza
A prayer vigil brought more than 1,000 Brooklynites and others around the metropolitan area to Grand Army Plaza on Monday night. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams organized “Witnessing to Hope: A Candlelight Vigil of Prayer and Peace,” which reached out to clergy and lay leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. While the entire vigil took place during daylight, participants held lit candles in solidarity.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, as well as diocesan chaplains to the NYPD, co-led the vigil.
The vigil was organized as Brooklyn’s response to the violence and racial strife that resulted in the deaths of Alton Stirling, Philando Castile and five Dallas police officers: Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael J. Smith, Brent Thompson and Patrick Zamarripa.