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Community rallies following week of national violence

Posted at 5:31 PM, Jul 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-09 23:56:06-04

Virginia Beach, Va. - Virginia Beach residents and police gathered at Enoch Baptist Church today to remember the five Dallas Police Officers killed Thursday night.

They also remembered Alton Sterling and Philando Castile - both shot and killed by police officers earlier this week.

“We’re trying to bring everyone together instead of just being one or the other, so that we can all mourn together as one," said organizer Amy Suttle.

The event was just one of many rallies, vigils, and protest held in Hampton Roads.

Black Lives Matter protestors chanted and held signs in Downtown Norfolk.

“I’m not out here for anti-cop," rally organizer Domynick Egerton said."I’m not out here for anti-white. There’s bad apple in every organization.”

Egerton said their message is about love and peace.

“You can’t spell community without unity and unity meaning diversity,” Egerton explained.

With the strained relationship between the black community and law enforcement in the forefront, protestors hope it sparks a conversation about bettering their relationship.

“We need people to understand as humanity we are one race, one people and if we all unite we can do some good,” protestor Jennifer Meyer said.

Rebekah Jones, a police widow, held a candlelight vigil for Dallas' fallen officers and their families.

Jones says their pain hits close to home.

“I want the offers there to know, and also the surviving families, to know that ‘wow, even in Hampton Roads, Virginia, people know that my husband paid the ultimate sacrifice," Jones explained.