As Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was speaking about the mass shooting in his state during a candlelight vigil for victims, he was routinely interrupted.
DeWine began his remarks by commenting on the size of the crowd at the vigil, saying it represented “the love and resiliency of this great and wonderful community.”
He got a round of applause for the comment, but then the people in the crowd started to chant, “Do something!” It started out as just one voice, but soon, several others can be heard joining in.
DeWine continued his comments, saying: “What we do tonight, with this amazing crowd, is to say to them (the victims and families), ‘We love you. We care very, very deeply about you, and we will do everything that we can to tell you that we care.’”
DeWine kept speaking, and while the chants died down, they did not completely stop.
DeWine ended his comments, and the chant started up again as Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley took the microphone. She let the chant go on for a few seconds but then said, “I love you all, but remember this is a vigil tonight. This is a vigil for the people that we lost,” which prompted applause from the audience.
The mayor wrapped up her remarks by saying, “There will be time to take action, but let us come together as a community as we work to heal. We are here to heal tonight.”
Boos soon followed as both speakers finished their speeches and stepped away from the podium.
“I was one of them,” said Cate Berger. “I’m in a strange place of personally. Of course, I’m deeply sad but I’m angry. Strangely comforting that there are others that feel that way. It’s overwhelming to feel that maybe no one cares.”
That sense of helplessness was felt by many at the vigil as they looked to clergy for guidance on how to move from this nightmare.
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