Vigil For Uvalde Massacre Victims To Be Held At A Rockville Courthouse

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County and Rockville officials will hold a vigil for the victims of the Uvalde school massacre on the steps of the Grey Courthouse Office Building Friday afternoon.

At least 21 people were killed during the shooting on Tuesday, including 19 students at Robb Elementary School in Texas.

“We are tired of ‘thoughts and prayers’ and we are beyond fatigued with the action of numerous senators blocking the passage of critical gun-control legislation,” the Rockville Mayor and Council said in a joint statement. “The time is now to require mandatory background checks. The time is now to require a moratorium on the sale of assault weapons. The time is now to require a 48-hour timeout for those wanting to purchase any type of gun. Bottom line, the time is now for action.”

The vigil is hosted by Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton, as well as members of the Rockville and County councils. Officials are encouraging attendees of the vigil, which will start at 5 p.m., to wear orange to recognize gun-violence awareness.

Montgomery County officials have called on state and federal leaders to make changes to gun laws in response to the shooting, saying that school shouldn’t be a place of violence.

"As a parent and former elementary school teacher, I understand that this is a parent's worst nightmare," said County Executive Marc Elrich in a statement. "It has been nearly a decade since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, and it is unfortunate that we are going through this sort of pain once again, but this might have been avoided if we had taken action back then."

Related Stories:

• Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims
• Texas School Shooting: Gunman Killed 19 Kids, 2 Teachers In Same Class

The Montgomery County Board of Education said the massacre was “unbearable.”

“Tonight we hold our children extra close as we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ending senseless gun violence and to providing for the safety, security and wellbeing of our entire school community," the Board said in a statement. "Together we are committed to the safety and well-being of all students and staff. Each of us has a role to play in ending the violence that has again, stolen our peace, and shortened young and innocent lives too soon."

Resources for Parents:

• National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Your Children About Violence
• Commonsense Media: Explaining The News To Our Kids
• Commonsense Media: How To Talk To Kids About School Shootings