As unrest continues to build in Ferguson, Mo., a St. Louis suburb in turmoil since the fatal shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager, people from across the Delaware Valley came together for a vigil Thursday in Philadelphia.
The gathering took place at LOVE Park at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard at 7 p.m., part of an effort nationwide to honor victims of police brutality.
The vigils, which were scheduled for 90 cities throughout the country, come less than a week after the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by a police officer Aug. 9 in Ferguson. Mo.
"I think it hit close to home because I have a brother who is 22," said Camille Murphy, a Roxborough woman who attended the rally. "I can just imagine what the parents are going through."
A simultaneous moment of silence will occur at 7:20 p.m. ET. Organizers also asked participants to tie a red cloth around their right arms.
Nearly 500 people attended the local event, which intended to show the public "will no longer stand by and watch our loved ones be killed or abused by police," according to the vigil's Facebook page.
The observance in LOVE Park was organized by Leslie MacFayden of Cherry Hill, N.J., according to social media pages for the event.
