Musicians gather in West Philly for vigil in memory of Elijah McClain

The musical demonstration in the park at 51st and Pine Streets drew about a hundred listeners, some of whom brought instruments of their own to join the ensemble in several works after an opening performance of George Walker’s "Lyric for Strings."

Renard Edwards, a violist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, plays with other string musicians during a candlelight vigil and short concert in memory of Elijah McClain in Malcolm X Park on Wednesday night. McClain, a 23-year-old massage therapist and violinist, died last summer a few days after police in Colorado detained him, placed him in a carotid hold, and injected him with a sedative. String vigils have been held in New York, Boston, Chicago, and dozens of other cities for him and other Black Americans killed by police.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

by Peter Dobrin

Published July 15, 2020, 10:44 p.m. ET

An ensemble of about 30 violinists, violists, cellists, and double bassists gathered Wednesday night in Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia for a candlelight vigil in memory of Elijah McClain. The musical demonstration in the park at 51st and Pine Streets drew about a hundred listeners, some of whom brought instruments of their own to join the ensemble in several works after an opening performance of George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings.”

The 23-year-old McClain, a massage therapist and violinist, was detained by police in Aurora, Colo., last August, placed in a carotid hold, and injected with a sedative.

He died several days later. An initial investigation ended with no charges filed in his death. After public pressure, a new investigation was ordered.

Wednesday’s vigil also honored the memory of Mouhamed Cisse, a cellist shot to death June 1 in West Philadelphia by an unknown assailant. The vigil will be repeated Sunday at 8 p.m. on the east steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.