Denver Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil 2023: "We Will Remember"

Luminarios lined the steps of the City and County Building. Evan Semón Photography

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For the 34th year, hundreds of citizens gathered in front of the steps of the Denver City and County Building on the Winter Solstice for a memorial to homeless individuals who had passed away over the past year.

The holiday lights on the building were turned off so that the area was lit only by 312 luminarios, each bearing the name of an individual who perished this year.

Together, the group read the names of those who were lost.

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Each luminario had the name of a deceased individual.

Evan Semón Photography

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A battery-powered candle helped illuminate the names of those lost on the streets.

Evan Semón Photography

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The 311 luminarias represented the 311 unhoused people who passed away in Denver in 2023.

Evan Semón Photography

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The crowd was silent as the names of the dead were read aloud.

Evan Semón Photography

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Music accompanied the readings.

Evan Semón Photography

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Britta Fisher, president and CEO of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, which hosted the event.

Evan Semón Photography

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The City and County Building's holiday lights were turned off during the vigil.

Evan Semón Photography

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Children attended the event with their parents.

Evan Semón Photography

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Doug and Mia Pryce are regulars at the annual event.

Evan Semón Photography

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As people in the crowd shouted out more names, at least a dozen individuals were added to the list of unhoused people who'd died on the streets this year.

Evan Semón Photography