In the aftermath of this week's tragedies, hundreds of people gathered Saturday morning for a prayer service.
The celebration was at the East Las Vegas Community Center near Stewart and Eastern avenues. It was open to all races, faiths and nationalities.
Prayer Celebration kicking off at E Las Vegas Community Center. Extra significant and emotional in wake of #Dallas pic.twitter.com/lec1o32oNJ
— David Schuman (@david_schuman) July 9, 2016
The celebration has been happening since 2008 and this one had been scheduled for months, but no one could've known what kind of week would lead up to it.
"The mood is bad," said Michael Hatch, the celebration's founder. "The mood has changed. There's a lot of hurt, a lot of pain, a lot of people that have been affected by this."
Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she saw this gathering as a jumping off point to take action.
"We need to reach down to young people," she said. "Who we are, what we feel about ourselves and how we treat others, it all starts at home."
Mayor Goodman: "Enough is enough." She says peace starts in the home at a young age pic.twitter.com/p5pLQ3WmR4
— David Schuman (@david_schuman) July 9, 2016
Many of the worshipers remain hopeful.
"In order for something good to happen, usually something tragic has to happen so we can come together and value one another and see the value of the human being," said Angelo Ricco.
Unity prayers will continue every Saturday this summer at different locations throughout the city.
