While there was broad media coverage of the devastating hate crime killings of three people at Jewish centers in Overland Park, KS, the story of the powerful actions of local community members to respond to these crimes went largely unreported in the national media.
Young people take the lead in bringing people together
Four days after the attack, local teens led a candlelight vigil to remember the victims and affirm their sense of community. They were joined by more than 3,000 people of all backgrounds and ages.
Kansas City Public Television (KCPT) and Not In Our Town (NIOT) covered the teen vigil in this inspiring video, and are teaming up to follow community action in the aftermath of the attack.
The hate attack at Jewish Centers in Overland Park, Kansas
On April 13, 2014, the day before the Jewish holiday of Passover, an anti-Semitic gunman shot and killed two people at the Jewish Community Center then killed another at Village Shalom. The targets of hate were Jewish, but the victims—including 14-year-old Reat Underwood, his grandfather Dr. William Corporon, and Terri LaManno—happened to be Methodist and Catholic.
overland park
This story from our public television partner KCPT covers the interfaith vigil on April 17 in response to the Overland Park killings in Kansas City. Check here for more video updates.
by Patrice O'Neill, Executive Producer of Not In Our Town
Three people were shot to death on Sunday, April 13 by a known white supremacist who targeted the Jewish Community Center and a Jewish Retirement home in Overland Park, KS, just outside Kansas City, MO. Federal and local law enforcement officers have officially called the attack a hate crime.
Our hearts go out to the families of Reat Griffin Underwood, Dr. William Lewis Corporon, Terri LaManno and to members of the Jewish community in the Kansas City area and across the country.
Not In Our Town will be covering community response in the Kansas City area with Kansas City Public Television (KCPT).