There were anxious rumors of possible protests, but love prevailed as thousands of people, both young and old and in-between, from every walk of life imaginable, gathered together in honor of murdered FWC Officer Julian Keen, Jr. at the candlelight vigil in Barron Park on June 18, 2020. Law Enforcement officers and first responders, from all over the nation, were there in Keen’s honor, even some from NYPD. Fire Departments from around the state brought ladder trucks unfurling a giant American flag and a Fallen Officer flag across the sky. Down below, the river was dotted with boats who played Keen’s favorite songs and flew different, colorful flags. Several Live social media feeds had over 1,000 people watching, as countless memories and hundreds of photos of Julian were shared. At nightfall, candles were flickering and lanterns lit up the sky over LaBelle Bridge.

“Julian, “Man”, Batman, LaBelle’s Son, A Superhero. Larger than life. An athlete. An angel. He was one of a kind. An old soul. Full of life. A contagious smile. A mentor to the youth and adults alike. A pillar to the community. He knew no color, no race, no age, just that he wanted to help those in need and to make a difference in our community. He was the sunshine on those rainy days. He wanted to see everyone be their best. What he accomplished in his short 30 years will last a lifetime and will continue to bring people together. The world has lost one of the most amazing souls God has ever created. Rest In Peace and may we all #BelikeJulian,” said Cory Raborn.

For those of who couldn’t attend, here is one of the live video links: https://www.facebook.com/tonyricardobarnes/videos/10159970925254447/