The Center on Halsted Anti-Violence Project held its annual candlelight vigil to remember LGBT victims and survivors of violent crimes. The solemn event, 'Bringing Violence Out of the Closet,' was held on a crisp Oct. 19 night at Gill Park, 825 W. Sheridan.
Vernita Gray of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office was among those who spoke at the remembrance. She talked about how she 'looked forward to the day when [ she ] could go into [ her ] office and there would be no victims and no work on [ her ] desk.'
Gray also commented on the horrific case of Barretta Williams, a victim of violence. 'One of two 16-year-old boys came into Barretta's apartment and shot her 14 times and killed her. ... Her friend tried to get out of the apartment; she was shot four times and survived by pretending she was dead. ... I say to you this evening that the tragedy is while we win our cases, we don't have any winners in our courts; the victims are deceased and the victims' families are changed forever—like our community is changed forever.'
She also emphasized the need to stress to young people that violence is not the answer. Gray added that peace and freedom are essential: 'I tell people all the time that I'm a woman in a free country but when night falls, I don't feel free—and we all need to feel free.'
Ron Clewer, brother of murder victim Kevin Clewer, said that, after his sibling's death, he concluded that gays and lesbians have to be concerned about safety wherever they go.
Ron Clewer also talked about a sense of hopelessness upon hearing of Kevin's death—and that some people said ''Oh, he was gay'—as if that were understandable.'
However, the Clewer family gradually realized that they were not alone and that LGBT-related violence took place more often than they thought.
The speakers' platform was surrounded by bags containing candles; on each bag was inscribed the name of a different victim or survivor. Gwen Araujo, Wanda Alston, Felix Padilla, and Brad Winter—as well as the aforementioned Williams and Clewer—were just a few of the names. ( As an aside, according to The Advocate, Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were found guilty Sept. 12 for the murder of transgender teen Araujo. )