ALEXANDRIA, VA – A local candlelight vigil honoring the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, September 24 at Market Square in the 300 block of King Street in Old Town Alexandria.
Spearheaded by local business leader, Kelly Grant, the event is open to all and is expected to attract residents of all ages, as well as civic and political pacesetters. “RGB was a champion of civil rights for women, gender bias and stood for justice, and I am thrilled to be joined by Councilwoman Amy Jackson and Gina White to put this together,” says Grant, who is also the driving force behind the new Alexandria Drive-In and is the Chief Operating Officer of ALX Community, a shared office workspace with two buildings in historic Alexandria.
“When Kelly Grant called me on the night Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, asking me to help with an event paying tribute to RBG, I jumped in with “YES” before she could even finish her sentence,” said Gina Rollo White, a mindfulness educator, and researcher.
Councilwoman Amy Jackson echoed White’s eagerness to participate, stating “Friday night was a shock to many of us. Her “sudden” death caught us off balance. This vigil is the call to action created from that gut-punch moment, leading us to need this dedicated time to honor a phenomenal woman as we share our own fear, anger, and uncertainty.”
“We had an open conversation about what RGB meant to each of us — women’s rights, disability advocacy, same-sex marriage advocacy, and on and on,” continued White, who is also the owner of Mindful Junkie, a not-for-profit organization that empowers first responders with mindfulness strategies to be safe, healthy, and emotionally regulated.
At the vigil, battery-operated candles will be distributed, and speakers will lead attendees in a moment of silence to reflect on RBG’s life, work, and service. >