On Wednesday evening, as hundreds of Columbians travelled to Louisiana to join in a national protest, hundreds more gathered at the State House in a show of solidarity for the “Jena Six.” They sang. They prayed. They listened to speakers and spoken word artists. They joined hands and promised to stand united against racial injustice.

It was moving to see that sort of unity, which grew organically from a shared sense of outrage. It was the first rally I can remember that wasn’t organized by one group or anyone with an agenda. No political grandstanding. No pre-printed signs. Just people who came together on short notice to add their voices to the chorus saying, “Enough!”

While it was gratifying to see such a large and hopeful crowd, it was disappointing that there was no effort to take the next step. With all that energy, there was no talk about where to direct it. What now? Nobody knows. And with the local media pretty much ignoring the event, it was a missed opportunity all the way around. (Does a rally happening in a void make a sound?)

To see more photos from the rally, click here.