[View the story "Spontaneous vigils in the wake of the Newton tragedy" on Storify ]Spontaneous vigils in the wake of the Newton tragedy As family and friends of the shooting victims cope with the horror, many Americans are taking to the streets Friday evening in spontaneous candlelight vigils across the country. Storified by CTVNews.ca · Fri, Dec 14 2012 17:30:47
In New York's Times Square:
Candlelight vigil taking place at Times Square after unspeakable tragedy in #Connecticut #prayfornewton http://pic.twitter.com/8ZzABHuHDavid Alter
RT @CaraMaresca: "Our prayers go out to the victims of #Newtown." Vigil in Times Square happening now. #SandyHook http://pic.twitter.com/AY9XzAVbMarah Lidey
Candlelight vigil for #Newtown victims in Times Square. http://pic.twitter.com/8Ds708fwCara Maresca
Outside the White House:
RT @rosswallen: #todayistheday vigil at the @whitehouse http://pic.twitter.com/HDcE4o0DLouis Haut-Prokop
Protest at the White House #TodayISTheDayCaitlin Frazier
Candlelight vigil outside the White House http://pic.twitter.com/5P3YAbBGThinkProgress
Photo: Moment of silence at a candlelight vigil outside the White House. Credit: Pat W. Caldwell/The American Prospect http://pic.twitter.com/eWBOAcOmABC News
Two people light candles to honor the victims in today's shooting at #TodayIsTheDay vigil outside White House http://pic.twitter.com/MH6Y1HpaThinkProgress
In Spokane, Washington:
RT @AlexRozier: Small candlelight vigil started in Riverfront Park for the victims of the #NewtownShooting @KHQLocalNews http://pic.twitter.com/vBWT7wJpKelsey Watts
And of course, in Newton, Conn., where people are gathering in the small town's churches to take part in prayer vigils.
RT @AlexNBCNews: Lots of folks from the community are here at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church for the #Newtown shooting vigil in CT http://pic.twitter.com/0ayCyGMmKevin Frey
RT @chriscato: United Methodist Church in #Newtown where people are gathered for a prayer vigil. Live report at 11 on NBC10. http://pic.twitter.com/vondgPYVMaria Resinski
RT @CTSocietyDC: Thanks to @rosadelauro and fmr. Sen. Chris Dodd for joining us tonight in holding a vigil for #newtown victims. http://pic.twitter.com/FN3TBElCPaul Mounds
In Hartford, Conn., Mayor Pedro Segarra teared up as he spoke at a vigil at Bushnell Park. The crowd sang 'Silent Night'.
RT @townnewsguy: Hartford Mayor Pesro Segarra tears up as he speaks at vigil. "I really need a hug" he said. #newtown http://pic.twitter.com/SUeAALgTabescarr
Wonderful! RT @townnewsguy: Crowd at vigil in Bushnell Park singing Silent Night. #newtown http://pic.twitter.com/2AqdQahYJim Reed
Meanwhile, as those on Twitter were using the hashtag #todayistheday to push Washington to get tougher on guns, some took their advocacy to the streets, voicing and displaying their positions on gun control at the vigils.
RT @MikkoAlanne: Outside The White House. #TodayISTheDay http://pic.twitter.com/4Yjmlin8Sue Coe
Sign at the candlelight vigil outside the White House http://pic.twitter.com/QSPOIqmYThinkProgress
Raw: Gun Control Demonstration Near White Houseassociatedpress
Just got back from a rally at the White House #todayistheday http://pic.twitter.com/XMBZC2w7Anna Schiller
RT @jeffrae: People have begun gathering in front of the White House in response to the #Newtown shooting #todayistheday http://pic.twitter.com/hDcuDENzRubi Martinez
RT @jeffrae: Parents have brought their children to the vigil outside the White House for the victims of #Newtown #todayistheday http://pic.twitter.com/0qdNcmdbSteve Martinez
Vigil outside the White House and various advocacy groups insisting that "today IS the day" to talk about gun control http://pic.twitter.com/lckJZx7rVera Bergengruen
Wow, the petition to address gun control started today and already has 31,000 signatures. https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/immediately-address-issue-gun-control-through-introduction-legislation-congress/2tgcXzQC?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl … #TodayIsTheDay #GunControlKhokhar
Gun control advocates tweeting with hashtag #todayIStheday in response to @PressSec http://j.mp/UGCTpOZeke Miller
I'm here because today is not the day to talk about gun control tomorrow was! You do not need a background check in order to purchase a gun in this country!outofthecorner
Advocates have also been circulating infographics from past years, showing statistics of the number of people who have died in gunfire in the U.S.:
Think about it #TodayIsTheDay #PrayForNewtown #Conn #Gun Control #NRA #RyanLanza #CTshooting #SandyHook #CTStatePolice http://pic.twitter.com/CXHV8c7kGeorge Gayl
RT @TheMoralGuide: gun-related death rates in the developed world. #usa #todayistheday http://pic.twitter.com/3MyZpVZmBritton Stackman
#todayistheday #SandyHook #Newton http://pic.twitter.com/Eej5WR09Mariam Askari
The NRA, in response to calls asking for a comment on the Newton massacre, refused to comment 'until the facts are thoroughly known.'
