The details of Jorge Steven López Mercado's brutal murder continue to send shockwaves across Puerto Rico and beyond, but a group of New Yorkers plan to hold a vigil in his memory this Sunday, Nov. 22, on the Christopher Street Piers. I've cut and pasted details of the gathering from Facebook.
LOCATION: DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN, TBA (TENTATIVELY CHRISTOPHER STREET PIERS) - 7 PM WITH OPTIONAL MOMENT OF SILENCE AND MASS AFTERWARD
BRING: CANDLES FOR YOU AND OTHERS
***IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN NYC AND WANT TO DO YOUR PART, SEE END OF MESSAGE***
DIRECT NON-FACEBOOK USERS TO MERCADO-VIGIL.TUMBLR.COM
---
"19 year old aspiring fashion artist Jorge Steven López Mercado was found on Friday night decapitated, dismembered and partially burned. According to authorities, the investigation has shown that it is indeed a hate crime." (source: Current)
"The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the 'type of lifestyle' he was leading." (source: Towleroad)
---
Please, please invite all of your friends to a vigil honoring Mercado, specifically, and all others who have been murdered, beaten, and otherwise terrorized for their sexuality or semblance thereof.
***THIS EVENT WILL BE FILMED AND EDITED IN CONJUNCTION WITH VIGILS IN OTHER CITIES. THE EDITED FILM WILL BE PLACED ONLINE TO SHOW SUPPORT TO PR'S QUEER COMMUNITY, AND TO LOBBY FOR THE HATE CRIMES PROVISION BE APPLIED TO THIS CASE. FULL PROSECUTION FOR SUCH A DISGUSTING CRIME.***
The queer community in Puerto Rico needs to know we support them.
WE MUST FUNNEL OUR SADNESS INTO AN OUTPOURING OF RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE.
We must show the government, the media, and the oppressors that to systemically target one group for its appearance or mannerisms--and then subject them to violence explicitly for those criteria--is INTOLERABLE.
---
For more info on the murder, check out http://bit.ly/1LZRiW and http://bit.ly/1rHTmw
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
New Yorkers to hold vigil for Jorge Steven López Mercado
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
does anyone know if there are any reputable news sources that have verified the comments that the police commissioner apparently made about,"anyone choosing to live this lifestyle should be aware of the consequences".
luke gutgsell
This is Boy in Bushwick... the investigator made his comments during an interview with what I believe is the local Univision affiliate on Puerto Rico on Nov. 13. My source on the island was among the first to confirm them. Hope that answers your question.
Post a Comment