Community participates in anti-protest gathering and candlelight vigil walk in honor of shooting victims
To honor the memory of BVHS student Reat Underwood and the shooting victims, BVNW students participated in positive anti-protest gatherings and in a candlelight vigil walk.
Senior Matt Herndon walks from outside the Jewish Community Center to the start of the walk holding his candle.
April 19, 2014
At the scene of over 1000 people dressed in white with signs painted with messages of love in hand, BVNW students joined members of the community in a positive anti-protest gathering preceding BVHS freshman Reat Underwood’s funeral at Church of the Resurrection Friday afternoon. The gathering was an effort to counter members of the Westboro Baptist Church who protested outside the church before the funeral service began.
Sophomore Michala Sliefert attended the gathering and said she and other students from other Blue Valley schools felt compelled to take action by blocking hateful messages of the protestors with uplifting words instead. Although she did not know Underwood personally, Sleifert said she wanted to support a cause she was passionate toward.
“When I found out Westboro was going to protest the funeral I got really mad and wanted to do everything to stop them,” Sleifert said. “Because this tragedy hit so close to home I think we wanted to show the rest of the world how strong we are as a community … and show the Underwood family that someone had their back.”
Although the time of mourning was somber, Sliefert said that gathering also provoked incredible feelings of acceptance, love and joy and was a reminder that life is a valuable thing that should never be taken for granted.
“The cars that passed would slow down, honk, take pictures, smile, and I even saw one woman who crying because she was so moved by it,” Sliefert said. It was extremely powerful and important because we were able to come together as a community and not only recognize but honor those who lost in this horrific antisemitic hate crime.”
Several hours following the conclusion of the funeral service, BVNW students and community members also participated in a memorial walk tonight in honor of the three victims of the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom shootings. The lives of William Corporon, Reat Underwood and Terri LeManno were commemorated through a Shabbat service, a brief memorial service and a walk from the Jewish Community Center, to Village Shalom and then back to the Jewish Community Center.
Senior Matt Herndon was in attendance at the walk, and said he felt the walk was successful as it showed unity in the community.
“I thought it went really well and it seemed like everyone was coming together,” Herndon said. “We banded together and showed love and peace.”
Adam Steinhilber, a senior debater from BVHS that knew Underwood personally, said while dealing with the recent tragedy has been hard, the unity and support received from the community has been remarkable.
“[The shooting] has been difficult for everyone,” Steinhilber said. “Obviously we’re trying to get back into somewhat of a normal routine. Together we’re getting through it…The community support locally, from the debate community, from the religious community [has been] incredible.”
Senior Ami Nanavaty, who was also in attendance at the walk, said while she was glad the community came together for tonight’s events, it is important not to forget the events that brought the community there in the first place.
“I would hope that the positivity that came out of [the shooting] would overshadow the negativity, but obviously we can’t forget what happened and why we had to come together as a community in the first place,” Nanavaty said. “The people that were lost on that day were definitely gone too early. But, I’m glad that we as a community saw what happened and are hopefully going to make progress towards more accepting and better community as a whole.”
Nanavaty said she believes Sunday’s deaths have had an impact on the community in showing that various prejudices still exist. She said because of this, in times like these, it is important to show love and support for all.
“[The shootings] affect our community by showing us that prejudice and anti-Semitism are not lost and we need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to show our support for everyone, because everyone is a human being,” Nanavaty said.
Herndon said he believes while prejudices do still exist, today’s walk was a step towards the correct direction for a future of more acceptance.
“[Today’s walk] showed the community that despite all our differences, we can come together and live peacefully with eachother,” Herndon said. “It’s sad that it took a tragedy to see that and I’m sure there will continue to be hatred and anger, but I think this is a good step forward in the right direction.”
