Candlelight Vigil Themed “A Candle for Every Story Lighting the Path to Action” Is Part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims today hosted the 41st Annual Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil. The Vigil brings together law enforcement officials, victim advocates, community leaders and community members to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Reflecting on the theme “A Candle for Every Story Lighting the Path to Action,” speakers included District Attorney Bragg, survivors of crime, the families of gun violence victims, and advocates.
“For 41 years, this vigil has given survivors and families who have lost loved ones a space to share and honor their stories. I’m deeply grateful to the advocates who continue to lead this work, and I am proud to help carry forward the legacy of Susan Xenarios and her decades of impact on the nation’s crime victim movement,” said District Attorney Bragg. “We understand that anyone can be a victim of crime, and no two victims are the same. That is why my office remains committed to centering the needs of every survivor by providing resources, individualized support, and working alongside our communities to promote healing and strengthen public safety together.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “This vigil and the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week it is part of serve as an important reminder of what we do every day in Brooklyn: support and help victims with empathy and compassion, advocate for their rights and seek justice for survivors and their loved ones. The candles we light tonight represent the humanity and promise of every victim and call on us to continue the work of strengthening public safety for all. I am proud to join survivors, families, advocates and law enforcement partners in lifting up the voices of all crime victims and I thank the Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims for doing this essential mission.”
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “For 41 years the annual New York State Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil has gathered survivors and those who champion them in an inspiring, uplifting display of courage and resilience. We learn so much from survivors’ healing journeys. Their victimization has not broken them, but has made them stronger, as they turn pain into purpose. I am proud of my Crime Victims Assistance Bureau for all they do for those affected by violent crime.”
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “On this 41st annual vigil in honor of Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we stand united with fellow district attorneys, our law enforcement partners, dedicated service providers, community leaders and all those impacted by crime. Obtaining justice and providing meaningful support for victims of crime is at the very heart of our work. We are committed not only to holding offenders accountable, but to ensuring that every victim is heard, respected, and supported throughout the process. Today, and every day, we reaffirm our responsibility to stand with victims and to pursue justice with integrity and care.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said: “Today and every day, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my partners in law enforcement against senseless violence and uphold our vow to fight for justice for all New Yorkers. The annual Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil is an opportunity to honor those we have lost and remind survivors they are not alone in our city. I thank my law enforcement colleagues for their continued commitment to keeping our communities safe, and our neighbors and community members for all they do to help crime victims heal.”
The Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims’ Annual Vigil is a forum for community members to share insights, engage in problem-solving strategies and speak as a united voice on behalf of all victims of crime and violence in New York State. Its mission is to inform and educate members and the public about current developments in legislation; our criminal justice and law enforcement systems; victim service and trauma treatment modalities; and critical issues affecting the community that have an impact on services and justice for victims and the crime victim movement on a local, state, and national level.
With over 100 members, including crime victim assistance advocate programs, government agencies, and community-based programs and providers, the Coalition covers the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester counties.
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