Residents in Fountain Hills are coming together Sunday in response to the recent deadly violence in Virginia last weekend.
The community hosted a “We Are One” candlelight vigil to denounce racism, white supremacy and Nazism. They’re hoping the event will promote interdependence, equality, and unity in diversity as tensions rise across the country.
There was live music and comments from community leaders and fellow Fountain Hills residents.
Roughly 150 people showed up to The Fountains United Methodist Church to come together and share a message of peace and unity. Ginny Dickey, who lives in Fountain Hills, saw last weekend's violence in Virginia and wanted to bring her own community together.
"Show unity...celebrate diversity, all of those really good, welcoming things," Dickey said.
The hour-long service brought together people from several faiths and the secular community.
"The message is we are all Americans and we all value those core values of interdependence and unity and equality," said Pastor David Felten with The Fountains United Methodist Church.
One woman who attended brought a sign that read "hate has no home here."
"It has been a long time coming that there's so much hate and we need to come together," said Ciel Villawatkins.
The event comes after the “Unite the Right” march in Charlottesville last Saturday. A car plowed into a group of counterprotesters — killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.
The driver, James Alex Fields Jr., 20, is facing several charges in connection with the incident including second-degree murder.
DETAILS:
The Fountains, a United Methodist Church
15300 N. Fountain Hills Boulevard
