MSUSFC said they wanted to demonstrate acts of violence will not deter individuals who believe a woman has a right to receive an abortion.

“I think it’s important to stand together and say that we won’t back away in fear," English junior and MSUSFC vice president Kelsey Wiley said. "Violence won’t change my opinions."

Some of the vigil’s participants were more saddened than surprised by the killings in Colorado Springs. 

“There has been an increase in threats towards planned parenthood since those videotapes claiming parenthood profits from the sale of aborted fetuses were released this summer, so it was shocking but not too shocking,” social work senior and MSUSFC treasurer Ariel Tausk said.

Attendees struggled to fathom what would prompt an individual to lash out as violently as the attack’s accused perpetrator Robert Dear supposedly did.

“It’s hard to put yourself in the head of someone like the shooter," psychology senior Beth Ann Hamilton said. "A lot of it probably fueled by misinformation and a lack of compassion."

For many the attack serves as reminder of the dangers planned parenthood clinicians and employees face. 

“A lot of the people who work in clinics go in knowing they could be risking their lives to provide this vital service,” Tausk said.

These feeling of fear extend beyond planned parenthood to touch pro-choice advocates. 

“I’ve had my face put up on anti-choice blogs before," Winters said. "It’s just so scary."

In addition to the vigil, MSUSFC will be co-hosting a policy forum with the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan where students can discuss the policies they would like to see Planned Parenthood and the government work on in 2016, Winters said. The forum is at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in Wells Hall, room A330.