Suburban groups stage Newtown remembrances

Groups throughout the suburbs gathered Saturday to remember the tragedy a year ago at a Newtown, Conn., school.

On Dec. 14, 2012, 20 children and six adults were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School by a gunman, who invaded the building and later killed himself.

In Waukegan, about 30 members of the Lake McHenry Chapter of Organizing for Action, local church members and several local officials gathered at Genesee and Clayton streets, across from the Genesee Theatre.

Snow was falling and a biting wind came off Lake Michigan as attendees held signs with the names of victims of Sandy Hook and local gun violence victims. Organizers said they also wanted to raise public awareness for “common sense” gun legislation and universal background checks. The Rev. Clarence Evans from Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in North Chicago asked attendees to pray with him for all gun violence victims.

In Palatine, the Sikh Religious Society held an interfaith candlelight vigil to honor the “little angels and heroes” of Sandy Hook. The vigil and prayers were led by children who attend Sunday school at the Sikh Religious Society.

Lt. Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek, Wis., police department was a guest speaker at the event. Murphy was a first responder who was shot 15 times at a Sikh temple shooting on Aug. 5, 2012, in Oak Creek.