BERKELEY – In the aftermath of truly horrible events, a night of peace and reflection seeks to provide healing to local residents and get political discourse back on the right track.
A candlelight vigil will be held on Tuesday, September 23, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Veterans Park in Bayville, 5025 Bill Zimmerman Way. The park is off Forest Hills Parkway/Veterans Boulevard, east of the Central Regional schools.
“Join us as we gather to honor Charlie Kirk and all those who have been impacted by political and social violence, including Iryna Zarutska and Minnesota State Senator Melissa Hortman,” reads the flier.
The event is being hosted by the Ocean County GOP and Chairman George Gilmore, and the list of special guests are all current Republican elected officials or candidates: gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd), Congressman Chris Smith (R-4th), Senator Carmen Amato and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Gregory Myhre (all R-9th), the Ocean County Commissioners and Berkeley Mayor John Bacchione.
“Everyone is very disturbed about what happened to Charlie Kirk,” Ocean County Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione told The Berkeley Times.
This is why the county Republicans and Gilmore decided to act, she said. However, “it’s not just Republicans upset about Republicans. It’s about all political violence.” Hortman was the Minnesota House Democratic leader.
“This is not what America is supposed to be,” she said.
