Lexie Lino said that her and her sister, Taylor Lino, were inspired to organize the vigil in light of the recent tragedies in the country — including the murder of Iryna Zarutska on Aug. 22, the shooting at the Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, the shooting at Evergreen High School on Sept. 10, and the assasination of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10.

“The past few weeks have shaken the ground of everyone that I know,” Lexie Lino said. “Especially last week with all of the tragedy, I felt called to do something more than what I was doing.”

Lexie Lino said that she and her sister Taylor Lino organized the event to “gather with love and with light and to prove that we can gather without any violence … and we can gather without any hard words, that we’re more than that.”

Lexie Lino said that with her Native American culture, she was taught by her mother to remember “our spirits” and honor them “because they have taught us and we deserve to carry their legacy along.”

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Rebecca Mott is seen holding a homemade sign at Sunday’s vigil for recent tragedies that have occurred across the country.

“No life deserves to be taken too early,” Lexie Lino added. “Everyone should feel safe to go out into their communities and to go to school and to go to gatherings and have discussions without being afraid of being killed.”

Lexie Lino led a prayer and held space for a moment of silence. The sisters then invited participants to share their thoughts with the crowd.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Sunday, community members are seen receiving candles from candlelight vigil organizers Lexie Lino, 23, and Taylor Lino, 26, who are sisters and Alpena residents.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Lexie Lino is seen leading a prayer on Sunday at a candlelight vigil at Bay View Park.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Sunday, Taylor Lino, left, and Lexie Lino, right, are seen standing behind a table in Bay View Park where they were handing out candles for participants.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Community members are seen gathered at Bay View Park for Sunday’s vigil organized by Lexie and Taylor Lino. Participants were given candles and helped one another light them before a moment of silence.