September Vigil for Migrants: Eagle Pass Remembers the Border Dead
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patti Hernandez (830) 294-8380 bordervigil @ gmail.com
Amerika Garcia-Grewal (646) 450-5898 pr @ interactivetransitions.com
Amerika Garcia-Grewal (646) 450-5898 pr @ interactivetransitions.com
September 5, 2023
Eagle Pass, TX - On Monday, September 4, 2023, Eagle Pass residents and allies held a vigil on the banks of the Rio Grande River to mark the unnecessary loss of life on the Texas-Mexico border. The Rio Grande Memorial Vigil was organized by Iglesia Luterana San Lucas, First United Methodist Church of Eagle Pass, Mission Border Hope, Sul Ross University and CC Winn High School students, and local Eagle Pass residents.
The evening's activities began at the Maverick County Lake, where the Eagle Pass Car and Bike Community showed off their cars before they started their cruise. Before their Main Street Cruise they shared stories of being turned away from favorite routes along the river. Due to the train, they chose an alternate route around town. Upon arrival at the Shelby Park Boat Ramp, Pastor Julio Vasquez of Iglesia Luterana San Lucas delivered a blessing to the cars and their drivers.
The multigenerational group then congregated at the boat ramp, where the vigil began with an invocation from Pastor Julio. He was followed by impassioned words from Carlos Longoria, a CC Winn Senior; Valeria Wheeler, executive director of Mission Border Hope; and Karen Gonzalez, an organizer with The Border Organization. They spoke about the humanitarian crisis at the border and called for more compassion and action to protect and support migrants and refugees.
Flowers were distributed to the attendees, which Pastor Julio blessed. The flowers were then laid on the river as a symbol of respect and remembrance for those who have perished. Rodrigo Lozano, Jr., one of the student leaders volunteering at the vigil, said: "These vigils started as a way for our community to get together to mourn the loss of the people who have died in the river. It's awful to think about the lives that could have been lived. All the potential these individuals had just washed away with the river. We hope our community will use these vigils to not only mourn, but heal from these losses. The citizens of Eagle Pass are here and we won't stand to the side while people are dying at our border.”
The vigil also attracted some visitors who came to show their support. Ari Sawyer, a U.S. border researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: “I was moved to tears by the people of Eagle Pass, who came to honor the migrant people who have lost their lives in search of a better one. While the river serves as a national boundary, it is also home to the vigil attendees who came saddened by death but also hopeful for the possibility of a more humane and welcoming future.”
LULAC State Director of Women, Claudia Azua of Mineral Wells, said: “I attended the vigil in solidarity with the community of Eagle Pass. We came together to remember all of the individuals who have lost their lives on the Rio Grande. It saddened me that some of those who have died are never named because their remains cannot be identified. Tonight's ceremony was a meaningful way to remember so many individuals who have passed looking for better opportunities.”
The next Border Vigil is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 2, 2023, although it is the fervent prayer of the organizers that there will be no deaths along the border in the month of September.
Note to editors: High-resolution photos and videos of the event are available here.
For more information, please contact bordervigil@gmail.com or visit fb.com/BorderVigil
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
Vigil for Migrants: Eagle Pass Remembers the Border Dead
The evening's activities began at the Maverick County Lake, where the Eagle Pass Car and Bike Community showed off their cars before they started their cruise. Before their Main Street Cruise they shared stories of being turned away from favorite routes along the river. Due to the train, they chose an alternate route around town. Upon arrival at the Shelby Park Boat Ramp, Pastor Julio Vasquez of Iglesia Luterana San Lucas delivered a blessing to the cars and their drivers.
The multigenerational group then congregated at the boat ramp, where the vigil began with an invocation from Pastor Julio. He was followed by impassioned words from Carlos Longoria, a CC Winn Senior; Valeria Wheeler, executive director of Mission Border Hope; and Karen Gonzalez, an organizer with The Border Organization. They spoke about the humanitarian crisis at the border and called for more compassion and action to protect and support migrants and refugees.
Flowers were distributed to the attendees, which Pastor Julio blessed. The flowers were then laid on the river as a symbol of respect and remembrance for those who have perished. Rodrigo Lozano, Jr., one of the student leaders volunteering at the vigil, said: "These vigils started as a way for our community to get together to mourn the loss of the people who have died in the river. It's awful to think about the lives that could have been lived. All the potential these individuals had just washed away with the river. We hope our community will use these vigils to not only mourn, but heal from these losses. The citizens of Eagle Pass are here and we won't stand to the side while people are dying at our border.”
The vigil also attracted some visitors who came to show their support. Ari Sawyer, a U.S. border researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: “I was moved to tears by the people of Eagle Pass, who came to honor the migrant people who have lost their lives in search of a better one. While the river serves as a national boundary, it is also home to the vigil attendees who came saddened by death but also hopeful for the possibility of a more humane and welcoming future.”
LULAC State Director of Women, Claudia Azua of Mineral Wells, said: “I attended the vigil in solidarity with the community of Eagle Pass. We came together to remember all of the individuals who have lost their lives on the Rio Grande. It saddened me that some of those who have died are never named because their remains cannot be identified. Tonight's ceremony was a meaningful way to remember so many individuals who have passed looking for better opportunities.”
The next Border Vigil is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 2, 2023, although it is the fervent prayer of the organizers that there will be no deaths along the border in the month of September.
Note to editors: High-resolution photos and videos of the event are available here.
For more information, please contact bordervigil@gmail.com or visit fb.com/BorderVigil
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