2010.11.16 NC Vigil for Zahra Baker

[Reannan]

I sure wish I could have been there. I have a cousin who lives in Hickory, but I am about 3.5 hours away. I came home from work, and gave my 10 year old daughter a long, hard hug at 6:00 pm. I closed my eyes and sent the hug to Zahra in Heaven too. I hope all of you there in NC stay safe from the storms!

 

[nomoresorrow]

I hope this is okay to post here - if not, feel free to move to the appropriate locale. It was very moving to see/hear another "Happy Birthday" chorus ring out for Zahra today.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_TgmVmL5fQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_TgmVmL5fQ[/ame]

 

[salvarenga]

FYI: Just posted raw video of the Hickory PD Chief speaking at Zahra's vigil in the media thread.

 

[ynotdivein]

FYI: Just posted raw video of the Hickory PD Chief speaking at Zahra's vigil in the media thread.

Raw Video: Hickory PD Chief Speaks at Zahra Baker Vigil

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=195957&clipId=5299214&topVideoCatNo=128873&autoStart=true

Bringing it over, and sending you thanks salvarenga.

 

[imamaze]

Hundreds attend vigil for Zahra as details released in documents
Hundreds of sad and angry people attended a vigil for a dead Hickory girl Tuesday night just a day after disturbing details have emerged that suggest the girl could have been dismembered after dying.
A document in a bond reduction request filed Monday for Elisa Baker describes how she helped detectives in the case of Zahra Baker -- by taking them to places where parts of Zahra's body might be.
More... Video included of vigil...

Candlelight vigil marks Zahra's 11th birthday
A candlelight vigil to honor Zahra Baker, who would turn 11 years old today, began at 6 p.m. at Union Square in downtown Hickory.
• RAW VIDEO: Zahra At Speedway Children's Charities Event In May

• SLIDESHOW: Photos Of Zahra Baker

Zahra remembered on 11th birthday at vigil in Hickory
Hundreds of people gathered in Hickory on Tuesday night to remember Zahra Baker on what would have been her 11th birthday.
Police announced Friday, about five weeks after she was first reported missing, that they found her remains. No one has been charged with killing the young girl.
The vigil began at 6 p.m. Hickory mayor Rudy Wright spoke, followed by the Newton Conover High School choral ensemble and then police chief Tom Adkins addressed the crowd.
More... Video included...

 

[Cazzie]

Re the amazing weather (calm during the vigil, intense afterward)...and the posts about it...

I don't take these things lightly...

The winds of change as someone wrote.. (lyrics, not a post).

 

[PunKnLuV]

Very weird that it's rained all day and has been windy, but it stopped raining around 6:00 and the wind was not blowing. Beautiful night.

It was almost as if the storm held off in honor of Zahra as well!! The vigil was heart wrenching. Singing Happy Birthday to her almost pushed me over the edge. I brought a votive holder and candles so the wind couldn't blow it out. I was a little upset when the crowd starting screaming JUSTICE.... this was in honor of her life!! Fortunately it faded away just as quickly and we were able to carry on remembering her spirit and strength!!

I will remember this child and moment for all of my life. My friend Jason plans on lighting a white candle every year for her birthday and I am going to do the same. I will NEVER forget this child.

We drove by the house afterwards and there were a LOT of people there as well....but it was starting to rain and I needed to get home to my kids.

 

[sreshowtime]

Bless those of you who were personally able to attend the vigil...I was there in spirit, as I am sure many more were. Very moving. I can only hope and pray that some other child will be saved by people that this tragedy has impacted. Any who see abuse happening, should refuse to give up in demanding the authorities do something. I feel it is better safe than sorry and I wouldn't hesitate to make a report. Over and over if need be.

I am curious. I wonder who the family members are that the police chief mentioned? And he mentioned a great aunt. Do you suppose these were family member from Australia?

Also, was KB there with AB? She has never made any statemenst appreciative of the efforts of LE thus far, has she?

I hope to see this interview with AB later.

 

[Aedrys]

OMG, the chief of police's speech made me cry...why her? Why of all people on this planet, why was she taken? She touched so many people and was such an inspiration. Can AB or EB even begin to understand what they've done? Such a beautiful beacon of light and hope...

Oh God, how I wish she could have been saved...why do the bad people keep on living and people like Zahra keep on dying? It's not fair, it's so NOT FAIR!

 

[SherlockHomey]

I believe and hope that Zahra's death was not in vain. I think she has brought awareness to child abuse and neglect to an all time top priority in our community. This cannot be a bad thing. I only wish it didn't take something of this magnitude and brutality to bring this issue to light.

Rest in peace little angel Zarah and Happy birthday my dear! You are an inspiration.

 

[tlcya]

She and Shaniya are waking folks up (albeit with a niightmare) in that neck of he woods and making them really thankful for their own kids IMO

 

[tlcya]

IF just one person throws a huge enough fit and keeps at it when they've witnessed abuse. If just one person makes it their JOB to pursue and pursue and pursue their concerns about ONE child. It makes Zahra's sacrifice not in vain.

 

[Mountain_Kat]

IF just one person throws a huge enough fit and keeps at it when they've witnessed abuse. If just one person makes it their JOB to pursue and pursue and pursue their concerns about ONE child. It makes Zahra's sacrifice not in vain.

You know, I'm ashamed to admit that there have been one or two times throughout my life where I second guessed myself about stepping in when I thought parental behavior was borderline. The frustrated mother in Walmart I saw yank her young son up off of the floor...the neighbor who screamed at her daughter so loud I could hear it all the way up the holler. That neighbor has since moved away, and I have no idea where that young boy from Walmart ended up. It's not difficult to step in when you KNOW things are out of control. It's these borderline situations that really leave me wondering...did I do the right thing? Did I make the right call?

I don't have any answers...just asking myself the questions.

 

[tlcya]

I used to be concerned. Depends on the level of out of controlness. If I think a mommy has just slipped over the edge a bit in the Walmart. I engage her in conversation and take the immediate attention off the child. I then offer her an opportunity to think by allying myself with her and telling her that we've all had mommy moments and help her to disengage BEFORE things get out of hand.

I have once seen someone acually physically abuse a child and I did call it in. It was investigated. The child covered for the abuser and refused to admit that what I saw with my own eyes happened. I tried to follow up with DCFS and was told they had done their investigation and nothing seemed to warrant further follow up. I should have been a pain in the arse. I wasn't. I regret it to this day.

ETA I ws a very young mother in my late teens. I wish I was older, wiser back then.

 

[SherlockHomey]

You know, I'm ashamed to admit that there have been one or two times throughout my life where I second guessed myself about stepping in when I thought parental behavior was borderline. The frustrated mother in Walmart I saw yank her young son up off of the floor...the neighbor who screamed at her daughter so loud I could hear it all the way up the holler. That neighbor has since moved away, and I have no idea where that young boy from Walmart ended up. It's not difficult to step in when you KNOW things are out of control. It's these borderline situations that really leave me wondering...did I do the right thing? Did I make the right call?

I don't have any answers...just asking myself the questions.

It's my opinion that if you have any inkling of hesitation, it's better to be safe than sorry. Make the call!