CINCINNATI, Ohio — Dozens of violinists from across Cincinnati came together to celebrate Elijah McClain’s life through the Cincinnati Violin Vigil at Washington Park on Sunday.


What You Need To Know


  • Cincinnati held a violin vigil for Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old violinist who was killed by police in Colorado last August

  • Dozens of violinists across the city participated in the event at Washington Park

  • For many musicians, this was their way to express their support for McClain through music

  • This is one of many other violin vigils that were held across the nation to honor McClain

The 23-year-old violist was killed by police last August in Colorado while walking home from a convenience store. He hadn’t committed a crime.
 
“It’s really nice when people from all over the city come together for something this important,” said Madelyn Deininger, a violinist.
 
Nineteen-year-old Madelyn Deininger says an event like this was so important to her because she had the opportunity to express her support for McClain through music. 

“The protests are really amazing and it’s great seeing people come together and I feel like this is just another level adding music as the universal language for so many of us. It’s a really powerful thing.”
 
This vigil is not only important to the artists who performed, but to the supporters as well. 
 
“I was in Aurora that day,” said Neil Relyea, a Cincinnati resident. “I have a grandchild that lives in that city and there’s no reason why Elijah had to be treated the way that he was.”
 
With her sign in hand, Relyea showed her support to a young man who she says didn’t deserve to die. 

“It’s not a crime to be a nerd,” she said. “It’s no crime just to be in an innocent person, and when I learned that there was going to be a vigil here tonight, I was determined to come.”
 
Through this vigil, Relyea says she hopes to see real change happen for those who die from police brutality. 

“I’m hoping that justice is sought and that the officers either resign or be fired,” said Relyea. “No, they need to be prosecuted and convicted, but most of all there needs to be change in the way that the officers interact with the public.”

This vigil was one of more than a dozen others to take place across the country to honor McClain’s life.