MOORHEAD — Minnesotans across the state paused on Wednesday night, June 18, to honor the lives of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were assassinated in their home by a masked gunman targeting lawmakers.
In Moorhead, dozens gathered at Viking Ship Park for a candlelight vigil, standing in solidarity to remember the Hortmans. The event featured a wailing ritual symbolizing the grief and anger felt by many.
“It’s nice to see the outpouring from our community and our state, and I just hope that continues and that we can kind of wrap our arms around each other, and support each other during this time,” said Joy Wohlrabe, a Moorhead resident.
The Clay County DFL organized the vigil, collecting donations for a memorial tree to be planted in the couple’s honor. Organizers also encouraged attendees to remember the Hortmans by “petting a dog, telling a cheesy joke, and standing up for what you believe in.”
At the State Capitol in St. Paul, hundreds also gathered for a vigil, with live music and prayers for the Hortman family of Brooklyn Park and also the family of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were also shot multiple times in Champlin, Minn., but survived.
Isak Dinesen joined WDAY-TV as a reporter in September 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin for three years. He graduated from NDSU in 2020, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sports Communication at MSUM.
