Washington CeaseFire sponsored and led a public candlelight vigil last night at the Seattle Center International Fountain to mourn the loss of the victims from Monday's horrific massacre at Virginia Tech.

Approximately 50 members of the Seattle community gathered as Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the Rev. Samuel McKinney, Washington CeaseFire President Ralph Fascitelli and others spoke of the tragedy that occurred this week.

"We're holding this candlelight vigil out of the lives of those who were killed, to help the healing process, so we can remember that they didn't die in vain," Fascitelli said.

Formed in 1983, Washington CeaseFire is a non-profit organization that advocates to prevent gun violence. It has over 6,000 members in the state of Washington.

"Tragically, it takes 33 lost lives and an event of this magnitude to bring attention to this topic," Fascitelli said. "We think that people kill people, but it's not true. People with guns kill people."

According to Fascitelli and the Washington CeaseFire Web site, 30,000 people die every year in the United States due to gun violence, with 600 of those deaths occurring in the state of Washington.

"I was in a state of shock as the numbers kept rising," Nickels said at the commemoration. "The violence has to stop. These victims could have been our neighbors, brothers, sisters and children."

After the guest speakers had the opportunity to express their sorrow, Virginia Tech alumnus Trey Causey rang a bell after each victim's name was announced.

"This is a sick nation, whether we want to admit it or not," McKinney said. "There's too much gun power in this country, and it is assessable to people on so many levels. This was a young man that was sick, regardless or race or color."

Students from college campuses around Seattle were also present to show their support.

"I'm here to remember those who were lost in the massacre," Bellevue Community College student Kathryn Jobe said. "I think it is horrible what happened. It could happen anywhere, anytime, and we need to be conscious of our surroundings."

The vigil concluded with the community walking around the fountain with a sea of candle lights.

"Life and truth [are] not valuable in times like these, but [they] need to be," McKinney said. "Thirty-two lives had been cut out before they had a chance to really live."

Reach reporter Vicky Yan at news@thedaily.washington.edu.