Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday evening at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park for a candlelight vigil — the fourth in three nights in the city — to honor the victims of the mass shooting that killed 11 people at the ballroom on Saturday night.
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People hold signs with gun control messages during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People console each other during a memorial for the mass shooting victims outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023. A gunman killed eleven people and injured nine others at the dance studio after a Lunar New Year Festival near by on on January 21. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mourners gathered for a vigil Wednesday night at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting Wednesday night. (Photo by Emily Holshouser/Southern California News Group)
The vigil, which included speakers and music, was organized by Compassion In SGV, an activist group run by local residents.
“Hearing about what happened last weekend hit way too close to home,” organizer Brittney Au told the crowd. “Tonight, beyond our deep love for this city and this community, we are connected by our collective grief.”
The crowd was filled with local families who are grappling with the effects of gun violence on their community — a small city thrust onto an international stage.
Local parents Trisha and Darren Inouie brought their 4-year-old sons, who carried candles and stood out in the crowd with their matching red jackets.
“We could always leave them at home with a babysitter, but we feel like this is important to talk to them about,” Darren said. “It’s never an easy thing to talk about, but as parents, it’s our responsibility.”
A small group of activists from SGV Progressive Alliance and SGV Neighbors for Peace and Justice held a small protest during the vigil.
Organizer Paul Padilla did not believe the vigils have outright condemned gun violence.
“This is a story about guns,” Padilla said. “This is a story about a gun massacre.”
Melissa Michelson, a protest organizer and English as a Second Language teacher, said her students helped her translate small, handheld signs into Chinese.
Some vigil-goers walked by and nodded at the “guns are the problem” message, Michelson said.
Michelson is a staunch believer that politicians need to enact stricter gun control laws.
When asked if she heard Vice President Kamala Harris speak on that very thing earlier in the day, Michelson said she was pleased.
“But, it’s textbook,” she said. “It’s a lot of talk. This has been going on for years. I’m not that excited.”
The small group came despite a comment from Compassionate SGV asking them to reschedule the protest.
Staff writer Lisa Jacobs contributed to this story.