Crowley to gather in a stand against violence

CROWLEY - Three years ago, when a gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Conn. — including 19 elementry school children — Crowley residents Jimmy Broussard and Chad Monceaux organized a candlelight vigil to pray for those who had died and their families.
Several dozen people attended the gathering, which was held behind Crowley Kindergarten School in a moving ceremony for a tragedy that occurred over 1,500 miles away.
Then another mass shooting occurred. This time much closer to home.
Two weeks ago, two young women were killed when a gunman shot into the crowd at The Grand Theater in Lafayette, gaining the attention of the entire country.
Soon afterward, Monceaux said he began to receive phone calls.
“They were asking what Jimmy and I had planned on doing,” he said.
Broussard said that when he agreed to help organize another gathering — being billed as “Crowley Coming Together” — he realized that, though the eyes of the country were focused on Lafayette last week, Crowley and its surrounding areas have been seeing its own share of violence.
“We’ve had families right here that have suffered the loss of loved ones under violent circumstances,” he said. “Wednesday night we will be offering prayers for not only the two young women who were killed in Lafayette, but also those who have had family members who have died under violent circumstances in the streets of Crowley and Acadia Parish.”
Monceaux said that, though the event was being held due to violent circumstances, it could also serve as a positive method to bring the community together.
“We have so many great clubs and organizations that gather to do things for our community,” he said. “This is going to be for everyone. All citizens of Crowley and Acadia Parish are encouraged to attend.”
Unlike the ceremony which honored the Sandy Hook victims, this will be “very informal,” according to Broussard.
“We will be offering prayers and anyone who would like to speak up about their feelings regarding violence in our community as well as the tragedy in Lafayette is welcome to do so,” he said.
“We called Mayor (Greg) Jones and he was kind enough to let us use the Rice Festival Building due to the heat,” said Monceaux. “We’re asking people not to bring candles, obviously, because we will be indoors.”
Monceaux added that what was most important to him was bringing people together.
“I think the idea of people getting together following a tragedy is good for all involved,” he said. “This event is open to the entire public and we hope to see citizens from our area come together and offer any opinions or input they would like to share.”