Animal rights activists have planned a candlelight vigil for Friday night outside the Denver Zoo in remembrance of Harambe, the gorilla after a young boy fell into his enclosure.
Organizers say the event, set for 7-9 p.m., will be a “peaceful” way to recognize the 17-year-old endangered animal.
“Since (the zoo is) going to be closed, our plan is just to gather activists,” said Sidney Jesperson, an event organizer who is based in Boulder.
Jesperson said those who attend will march silently toward the sidewalk along Colorado Boulevard in front of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to educate the public about their cause.
“The goal of this vigil is to educate the public about the many senseless tragedies that occur daily in zoos across the world,” vigil organizers said in a news release.
Harambe was killed Saturday after a 3-year-old boy fell into the zoo’s gorilla enclosure. The by a team that shot and killed the 400-pound animal because officials feared the gorilla could injure or kill the boy.
Haramabe’s death has drawn outrage from animal rights groups who say the animal was punished for the mistakes of the child’s parents.
Denver Zoo officials on local security or policies regarding emergency incidents such as the one in Cincinnati.
