Oak Park residents showed support for their neighbor, Beth Kivel, assistant professor and department chair of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Monday, in the wake of a recent firebombing of her home.

“I feel as if people really care about us a lot,” Kivel said, “and were willing to take a risk themselves to come.”

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association arranged the candlelight vigil to be held at Kivel’s home. Kivel is a current member of the association and Nate Solov, the association’s Board of Directors, believes Kivel plays a significant role with the organization.

“Beth has been an active member and is responsible for arranging meetings and community events,” Solov said. “She has been a vital part of the team for the last year.”

Kivel has aided the union and community through fund raising and alerting police and landlords about the presence of drug dealing and disruptive tenants in the Sacramento neighborhood.

Despite the recent attack on her home, Kivel has no intention of moving out of the neighborhood and still plans to be a proactive member of the community.

“I feel like they win if we keep quiet,” Kivel said. “I’m going to live here and I’m not going to stop calling the police.”

Kivel’s home was hit with a Molotov cocktail early Sunday morning. She made the call to the police that morning and is currently working with investigators assigned to her case.

The explosion caused minor structural damage and, according to Kivel, the entire explosion caused only a scorch mark on the front of the house.

According to a press release from the Sacramento Police Department, police currently have no suspects and no motives for this case. Investigators are looking at evidence and searching for witnesses.

Anyone with information regarding this crime can call the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 264-5471. Callers can remain anonymous.

Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected]