Candlelight vigil held to remember Mercer County teen Pauly Likens
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In Sharon, a community still reeling and trying to wrap their heads around the loss of 14-year-old Pauly Likens, a transgender girl from Sharon who was murdered and found dismembered earlier this month.
The community, pride organizations, family, friends, and state officials attended a candlelight vigil to remember the Mercer County teen.
"It's tragic enough to have a young person murdered in their community but to be a part of a marginalized community on top of that makes it even more tragic.", said Pamela Ladner, president of LGBTQIA+ Alliance Shenango Valley.
Pamela has been in close contact with Pauly's mother who says her daughter had a heart of gold and was kind to everyone.
"She just wants people to know that Pauly was the type of kid who would befriend the new kid at school that everybody else didn't want to be friends with, and would stick up for kids even though she was a victim of bullying herself for her identity.", Ladner added.
The night featured several individuals who gave heartfelt speeches and called on the community to help be that change.
"Her life mattered and we need you to show up while we are here.", one of the speakers reiterated to the crowd, asking who will step up moving forward.
Governor Josh Shapiro is also calling for change through stronger hate crime laws, members of his office were in attendance tonight.
"There is legislation that's in the house and in the senate that would uplift our communities, instead of tearing them down.", said Ashleigh Strange of the Governor's office.
29-year-old-year-old DaShawn Watkins is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and abuse of a corpse, in connection with the death of Likens.