With blue LED tea lights raised in the air, hundreds of UCSB students and community members walked in silence from Storke Plaza to Isla Vista Saturday in honor of the victims lost in last year’s killings.
After a dance piece and performance of “Amazing Grace” by the university’s a cappella group, six chimes rang from Storke Tower for George Chen, Katie Cooper, Cheng Yuan “James” Hong, Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, Weihan “David” Wang, and Veronika Weiss.
The vigil made its way down Pardall Road and around downtown Isla Vista’s loop to gather in People’s Park as the crowd walked past hundreds of paper bags glowing blue with LED lights. Most sat on grass, some on the six benches dedicated to the victims, while family members and attendees took turns speaking.