Mayor Leads Candlelight Vigil Protesting Racism

Mayor Tom Bradley, Councilman Nate Holden, actor Brock Peters and other community and religious leaders led a candlelight vigil Monday on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall to call for an end to racism.

As part of a nationwide drive called “The Call for Racial Harmony, Justice and Equality,” the officials also signed a petition and pledged support to help stem prejudice and racial and religious violence.

The Rev. Charles Stith, of the Boston-based Organization for a New Equality, initiated the drive to create a new national commitment to end racial, ethnic and religious intolerance.

More than 400 people attended the rally outside City Hall, cheering as Bradley and the other speakers pledged: “I stand against all forms of hatred and bigotry and for harmony, justice and equality.”