Meghan Riley Lewis signed her emails “Stay sparkly,” and was happiest hiking mountains or dancing at music festivals.
With songs and candles, over 100 people crowded the street corner outside the Harford County Circuit Court building in Bel Air on Tuesday night for a vigil to honor Lewis, a transgender woman who was shot and killed in the parking lot of her apartment complex Dec. 27.
“In a world where often existing as a trans person is seen as threatening, she made many trans people feel like there was a place they could belong,” Ruby Miller, a college sophomore said. “I think that humanity that Meghan saw in all of us is what she would really want us to hold on to.”
Harmonie Schiff said Lewis gifted her the first flowers and jewelry she received as a woman, and dreamt of opening a retirement community for transgender women.
“Talk about affirmation,” Schiff said. “Always stay sparkly.”
Schiff led the crowd through “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead with friend Tina Castle on guitar. Friend Zosia Zaks said he called Lewis “Radio” because she was his “trans sister”.
“When I tell you that Meghan showed up in a very difficult time, most of you are going to nod in recognition. Meghan had a knack for showing up in your life just when you needed her most,” Zaks said.
Zosia Zaks spoke about Meghan. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Lee Blinder, they/them, speaks about Meghan Riley Lewis, pictured at left, at the vigil. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Ruby Miller, spoke on behalf of young people remembering Meghan Riley Lewis. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Lisa Eaton of Virginia made the bubbles and Leah Papp, of Pennsylvania, takes a selfie at the conclusion of the vigil. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
People start arriving for the vigil. The crowd grew to over 100 mourners. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Zosia Zaks and Lee Blinder, listen as Ruby Miller spoke about Meghan Riley Lewis. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Harmonie Schift spoke about a frienship shared with Meghan Riley Lewis. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Ruby Miller, spoke on behalf of young people remembering Meghan Riley Lewis. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Tina Castle, She/Her, on Guitar and Harmonie Schift sing "Ripple" by The Grateful Dead, written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Over 100 people gathered for a remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Joyce Rizer and Dorthy Brown from Bel Air, came to remember Meghan Riley Lewis. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Lee Blinder, they-them, at left, speaks about Meghan Riley at the vigil. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
A photo of Meghan Riley Lewis sits on a easel at the vigil. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Bonny Knudsen of UCBPride, remembers Meghan Riley Lewis. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Kurt Doan, he/him, President UCBPride, speaks about Meghan Riley at the vigil. A gathering of love and remembrance and candle light vigil for Meghan Riley Lewis whose life was recently and violently taken at the Harford County Circuit Court, organized by Trans Maryland, Baltimore Safe Haven and UCBPride, Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Suspect Brian Michael Delen, 47, shot Lewis in the upper torso following a confrontation, police said, and is charged with second-degree murder. He was initially held at the Harford County Detention Center without bond but was released on his own recognizance Friday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25.
“I’m a little baffled about why the individual who took her life lives in freedom. And I ask the attorney general’s office to investigate why this individual is allowed to be free,” Renee Lau, a housing director at Baltimore Safe Haven, said. “As far as I’m concerned, Meghan lost her life due to a hate crime.”
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