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Hundreds gather in Austin for vigil honoring victims of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting

The Austin Jewish community came together Sunday to honor the victims of a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

AUSTIN — Hundreds of people packed into the Jewish Community Center at the Dell Jewish Community Campus on Sunday night.

The vigil started out inside and eventually moved outdoors so the people who couldn't fit inside of the main hall could pray and worship with community leaders. The flags outside were all at half-staff and the vigil consisted of prayer, singing and speakers from the community.

Before the vigil, KVUE spoke with Nicole Villalpando, a woman who has close ties to the synagogue in Pittsburg. She wasn't able to attend the vigil tonight but said the act of violence will not stop them from honoring their faith and their Jewish community.

RELATED: Remembering the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting

"It means to me that my community is strong and that my community is not afraid, that we are showing how we are united across the world as Jews and that we're not gonna be afraid, we're gonna come to our congregations," said Villalpando.

Her ties with the synagogue involve her daughter, Ava. She was treated for chronic pain for a long time at the Children's Institute in Pittsburgh. The Tree of Life Congregation, where the shooting took place, was right across the street.

"That community was just going about their normal Shabbat morning, and somebody filled with hate came in ... my first thoughts was, do I know anybody," said Villalpando.

Although she and her daughter have not been back to Pittsburgh since December of 2016, she's hopeful that community and other communities will continue to worship freely.

"Sharing consolation but also sharing our strength that we are going to continue and be stronger," said Villalpando.

This mass shooting also hits home for Mayor Steve Adler, who is Jewish. He spoke at tonight's vigil and told KVUE that the community coming together, Jewish or not, shows the strength and togetherness of the city.

"It is affirming to be with neighbors and community here in Austin that from all different places standing together to carry that message. In Austin, there's no place for hate," said Adler.

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