Many in the crowd were visibly shaken. There were tears and hugs. Others carried signs calling for an end to hate. A handful of men of the Jewish faith wore yarmulkes.

Delaware U.S. Sen. Tom Carper emphasized the power of unity.  

“My prayer today is that those who have died in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life Synagogue will not have died in vain,” Carper said.

He noted that all religions in the crowd were represented, because we all must support one another.

“We’re not Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu — we’re all Jews,” he said. “We’re all Jews.”  

Delaware U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, after thanking the crowd for coming together during such a difficult moment, urged them to take their energy forward and make a real and positive difference.

“Let us be determined today, as we leave this place, to not just witness each other here, although that is powerful, to not just show our children this moment, although that is important, but to act,” Coons said. “To act in ways we can, to proclaim in this democracy that we will demand love win out.”

Gov. John Carney said he was struggling to find the right words.

“I know as your governor I’m probably expected to come up with some kind of words to touch your heart and console you and make you feel better,” he said. “I tell you I have felt speechless since yesterday morning.”

Carney offered the words to a song called “One Day” by Matisyahu, saying he thought the lyrics properly captured the sentiment of the moment. The lyrics say in part:

     Sometimes in my tears I drown
     But I never let it get me down
     So when negativity surrounds
     I know some day it'll all turn around

Delaware’s U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester let out a deep sigh before addressing the crowd. She said her heart was heavy. When she was invited to this vigil, she said she found herself questioning the purpose.

“Why a vigil? We have vigils and I never thought about what that word means,” she said. “What it is to have a vigil. And I looked it up and it said a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep.”

She emphasized now is the time to wake up and not get weary. She closed with a simple message she recently came across.

“Love thy neighbor, no exception,” she said.  

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer said it's unfortunate that he’s attended five such vigils since entering his position a year and a half ago. He reminded the crowd that all of the officials there Sunday would continue to fight for Delawareans.

“I want you to know, just as you’ve come out and stood out to make sure that we are a beacon of light across all the communities of this state,” he said. “We, too, your elected leaders, are working behind the scenes to make sure that that light shines here in New Castle and Delaware and across the country.”

During the vigil, several leaders from other religious faiths shared their grief and solidarity with the Jewish community.

“I stand before you this afternoon with a deep and heavy heart,” said Kim Zitzner, director of the Catholic Campus Ministry at UD. “Walking this very difficult journey with you and, indeed, with everyone within our country and throughout the world as we continue to see acts of hatred and violence.”

Irfan Patel, chair of the Islamic Society of Delaware, echoed Zitner’s message.  

“Today, I’m here representing the Islamic Society of Delaware and the Muslim community of Delaware to show solidarity to the Jewish community in this difficult time,” he said. “First of all, our deepest condolences to the families of all of those who lost their lives in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. May their memories be blessed.”

Hannah Greenberg, the president of Hillel Student Life, addressed the crowd by sharing a poem. She said the poem was written in the 1940s by a woman who died fighting against Nazis.

“This poem helps me accomplish the strength I hope that we all find during these difficult times,” she said.  

After the speeches and words of encouragement, the 11 leaders lined up to the right of the lectern. One by one, they lit candles by passing the flame off to the next person. Each flame represented one of the lives lost in the shooting. The ceremony closed with a musical selection that urged people to rebuild with love. As the song played, various leaders locked arms and swayed to the music.

Following the vigil, some in the crowd said they were truly inspired by the messages of many speakers to take action.

UD senior Jessica Schwartz said she doesn’t want to just mourn and instead will, “Actually take action, do something and go on in a positive light.”

Her friend, fellow senior Emily Meltzer, said she will be voting as the first step in making change happen.

“To see people when they were asked, from other religions, that were here, that’s what really got to me because I was like, “I need to show up for other people if they’re showing up for me,’ ” Meltzer said.