Front steps, porches and sidewalks around Edgewood were aglow with candelight on the night of June 4 as part of a community-driven show of support for racial justice.

Ahead of weekend demonstrations in Providence and other Rhode Island communities, the socially distanced vigil in Cranston’s easternmost neighborhood was designed to connect area residents and provide a means of expressing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sam Bryan, a resident of Arnold Avenue, said the concept for the vigil came about during a kitchen conversation with her housemates on Blackout Tuesday, which was held on June 2. She drew inspiration from a friend who had been holding virtual vigils via social media – a practice she found “just so calming and so grounding.”

“I think it’s really important in times of grief, in times of fear, in times of really intense action, to have those moments to pause – pause to feel what’s going on, pause to absorb what’s going on, pause to grieve, pause to cry, pause to scream, even,” she said. “So vigils like this, moments like this, are a really good opportunity to do that.”

One of Bryan’s housemates, Creature, said the virtual vigil represents a “way to build community” – one that is especially important for those unable to take part in a large demonstration due to health concerns or lack of transportation.

“It just seems simple and effective,” they said.

Word about the event spread at first through typed letters that Bryan dropped at the homes of roughly 30 neighbors. From there, its reach expanded quickly – as Bryan found out when she took a walk to The Veiled Crow to pick up some candles.

“‘They were like, ‘Oh, you’re that person who’s doing the vigil,’” she said. “People are clearly receptive, which is amazing.”

Shaw Avenue resident Valerie White, who took part in the vigil with her husband, Victor DeLaCámara, was among those who helped get the word out on social media. She said she “pretty much flooded every avenue I could think of” to promote the vigil.

“It helps you not feel helpless, in some small way,” she said. “But I really hope that this isn’t just lip service. If you really want things to change, you have to do it in your everyday life.”

Meshelle Chabot, a resident of Arnold Avenue, said the vigil was especially meaningful because of her personal experiences. She grew up as a member of a biracial family in a “very segregated neighborhood” in California and remembers the fear she and her family felt during the Los Angeles riots of 1992.

“Everything’s wrong, and it’s been wrong forever,” she said. “And one person can’t change it, but everybody together can make some type of difference … I want my kids to grow up in a better environment.”

Broad Street resident Natalia Nunez on the sidewalk holding candles with her daughters, Ava and Alanny Polanco, during the vigil. While the death of George Floyd and its aftermath has led to a “sad conversation” with her 11- and 7-year-old daughters, she said she takes comfort in the Edgewood community’s response.

“We’re lucky enough to live in a very diverse community in Edgewood where everybody’s all different colors … It’s great that somebody notices,” she said.

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