On Friday, she wore her Black Lives Matter T-shirt and took the stage at Jawbone Park as one of many speakers in a candlelight vigil in support of Black Lives Matter.

“If you believe in a cause, you should be willing to stand up for that cause by yourself or with a million people,” she said Friday. “I stand before you not only as a member of the Buckhannon community but as a member of the black community. The tragic events of the last couple weeks remind not only me but should also everyone, that we need to co-exist peacefully regardless of race, gender, sexual identify, finances and cultural beliefs.”

Gifford also emphasized another point.

“Not all blacks are criminals, not all whites are racist, not all cops are bad, ignorance comes in all colors,” she said. “Hatred is wrong. Anger is wrong. Violence is wrong. We have to lift one another. We have to respect each other. We have to love one another.”

Kaitlyn Gifford, a rising senior at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, asked those gathered at a vigil Friday night in Jawbone Park in support of Black Lives Matter to ‘stand with her’ and ‘to stand up for what is right’ by working together peacefully.

She invited those in attendance to be allies of black people.

“Help us, lift us up, talk to us, recognize us just like everyone else,” she said. “Stand with me. Stand with all my brothers and sisters. Stand up for what is right. Let’s work together to bring change to our nation. The way to peace is through love.”

Jessica Williams, who was born and raised in Buckhannon, spoke about her son and the name she chose for him, Theodore, meaning God’s gift. Like Williams, her son is also black.

“Theodore, God’s gift, is also blessed with beautiful brown skin,” Williams said. “But some people see that blessing as more of a sin. And they wish ill upon Theodore, God’s gift, because of it.

“I’m also telling you this because the black community cannot fight against these injustices by ourselves. We need our white brothers and sisters. I’m calling on you all today to speak up, speak out and speak often before Theodore, God’s gift, becomes another hashtag.”

Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory spoke at the event, and several officers were on hand.

“We wanted to make sure that the evening remained peaceful and we are happy to say that it did,” Gregory said of the police presence.

There was one police vehicle that circled the park during the event.

“We kept our eye on it and nothing escalated beyond that,” Gregory said.

Overall, Gregory said it was a good turnout and a very peaceful evening.

“There’s been a lot of bad things that we have seen on TV but there has been a lot of good events where officers have showed their human side,” he said. “By interacting more on a human level with the community, they have shown through those acts that not all police are bad. That’s what I wanted to be seen tonight as well.”

Gregory’s speech earlier in the night was a reflection of each of the officers in the department, he said.

“We believe in fairness, justice and equality and that the principles of due process applies to everyone – again, very strong emphasis on everyone,” he said. “Each and every day the officers of the Buckhannon Police Department work to exhibit these ideals.”

Mayor David McCauley said the city is collaborating with the Buckhannon Police Department on an exercise that will reemphasize and reiterate Buckhannon’s commitment to treating everyone fairly and the same by embracing total professionalism.

Del. Danielle Walker, D-Monongalia, spoke about her experiences as an educated, law-abiding black female in the state and raising children who are black. In her legislative platform, Walker has stood with the LGBTQ community, the recovery community, those who are homeless and others with a message of “One Love.”

“It’s not a hashtag,” she said. “It’s a way of living.”

On Friday, Walker emphasized that she also stood with the Black Lives Matter movement.

“You cannot tell me that you do not see color,” she said. “If everyone did not see color, we would not be yelling Black Lives Matter.”

Walker said everyone should support policies that give people of color equity and equality.

“I don’t want to change who I am,” she said. “I love who I am. Will you love me, too?”

Timothy Canter, a Buckhannon native who now lives out of state, emceed the event and recognized Amanda Vezinat for organizing the event.

Canter said that by saying “All Lives Matter” with the intention to put everyone’s life on equal footing and to convey unity, actually has the result of being more divisive.

“Of course every life is valuable, but not everyone’s lives are in danger due to their skin color,” he said. “Saying Black Lives Matter isn’t equivalent to saying other lives don’t, but rather that black lives should matter as much as white lives.”

Pictures of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other black men and women victims were hanging at the rally and at one point Canter had the audience say their names. Floyd died in late May while in the custody of the Minnapolis Police Department. Four former officers now face charges in Floyd’s death.

Friday would have been Breonna Taylor’s birthday but she was killed by Louisville police officers in her apartment in March after they entered with a “no-knock warrant,” according to media reports. Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker said he acted in self-defense and fired at the officers, not realizing they were officers, and officers returned fire, killing Taylor.

Matasha Weaver, who also spoke earlier in the night, closed out the night by singing “True Colors.”