Candles flickered and members of the crowd bowed their heads in silence as a speaker slowly read out the names: “Trayvon Martin. Tamir Rice. Sandra Bland . . . “

About 40 people gathered Wednesday night in Jamaica Plain to mourn the deaths of dozens of black Americans whose names have become familiar in the ongoing discussion about race and police brutality.

The vigil, held outside at First Baptist Church, marked the third consecutive monthly gathering in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“People here are really outraged about all the murders of black men, women, and children. We’re trying to lift up the value of black lives and stand up for that value,’’ said Ann Philbin, one of the organizers. “We’re standing against white supremacy, white privilege, and standing for racial justice.’’

The one-hour vigil included a short speech by the guest of honor, Martin Henson, a representative of the Boston chapter of Black Lives Matter, who welcomed “allies to stand beside us in our struggle.’’

He also referenced the extensive media coverage surrounding the popular Netflix true crime show “Making a Murderer’’ and argued that blacks in similar situations to the show’s white protagonist “don’t make news in the same way.’’

The show documents the wrongful rape conviction of a man in Wisconsin who is freed and is then convicted of murder. The show has generated controversy across the country and raised questions about whether Steven Avery was framed by police.

At one point Wednesday night, participants were asked to line up along the sidewalk of busy Centre Street and bear “silent witness’’ while holding signs that read “White silence is violence.’’ The peaceful 15-minute exercise caught the eyes of curious passersby and those stuck in the slow- moving traffic.

The monthly vigils were first organized by a mixed-faith group of 10 individuals after the Black Lives Matter banner hanging on First Baptist Church was vandalized twice since last summer.

The gatherings have attracted a “diverse mix of races, classes, and ages’’ among activists and concerned locals, Philbin said.

Past events have drawn up to 100 attendees and have featured speakers from the black community, although this was the first to include a representative of Black Lives Matter.

“Honestly, we’re trying to give white people an entry point,’’ Philbin said. “This is one step in, but more important is to actually act on what you’re standing for here in your daily lives and to be more directly supportive of Black Lives Matter in public life.’’

Emily Sedgwick, 63, of Jamaica Plain, has attended all three gatherings and believes that working toward racial equality is everyone’s responsibility.

“Everything going on with the police just keeps going on, and unless things get down to another level, I don’t see an end,’’ she said.

James Carey, 23, of Dorchester, was one of the younger participants on Wednesday. He said his experiences working at the Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center have taught him a lot about the relationship between health and racism, prompting him to attend a vigil for the first time.

“It’s taught me a new framework that has always existed, but I just never knew about,’’ he said. “I never learned this in school. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be vocal about it.’’

Henson said that while Black Lives Matter has always been clear about “black people owning black issues,’’ he was “thankful for whatever assistance we get’’ from the wider community.

Reenat Sinay can be reached at reenat.sinay@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @rensinay.