Survivors and family members of victims of gun violence held a candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C., Wednesday to commemorate the fifth year since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Hundreds of people crowded into a rustic brick church on Capitol Hill, lighting candles, singing songs, and listening to speakers from places affected by mass shootings.

The vigil has taken place every year since  the Newtown shooting, which took place Dec. 14, 2012. The gathering doubles as a political call to introduce stricter gun control legislation.

One of those who addressed the crowd was Jane Dougherty, the sister of Mary Sherlach, an educator killed at Sandy Hook.

“I have honored the promise I made to you at your funeral Mass,” she said, reading a letter addressed to her late sister. "I continue to speak out against gun violence and tell our story. What happened to you has changed my life.”

David Stowe, a member of Newtown Action Alliance and one of the organizers of the event, has attended a lot of vigils for victims of gun violence. He says he’s seen the mood slowly change over the last five years.

“There was always this deep sadness initially," he said. "The last year or so, immediately things turn more to anger and to rage that this continues to happen and those that are in power really seem completely unconcerned about doing something about it.”

He says one thing that does give him hope is when families of victims encourage people to honor the departed through acts of kindness and love.