Tuesday--Vigil for victims of hate crimes.

Vigil Tuesday, November 24 for victims of hate crimes
Gather at 6 p.m. at 11th and Congress

Join the Impact-Austin is hosting a vigil in the memory of Jorge Steven López Mercado, who was killed on November 14 in Puerto Rico in a horrific hate crime. The vigil will take place Tuesday, November 24, at 6 p.m., at the south gate of the Texas Capitol (at 11th and Congress). Participants are urged to bring candles.

Mercado was found dead by the side of a deserted road near Caguas, where he lived. His body had been partially burned, decapitated and dismembered.

We are also standing up for other victims of hate crimes. Jason Mattison Jr., 15, an openly gay sophomore at the Vivian T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy in Baltimore. He was found dead last week at his aunt’s house.

In Houston on November 12, a gay Langham Creek High School freshman, Jayron Martin, was beaten by a fellow student with a metal pipe while eight others stood and watched, despite his pleas for help. The attackers told Martin that after the beating he wouldn't be gay anymore. Martin suffered a concussion. He also has cuts and bruises on his arms and hands, and said he does not want to return to school.

In addition to paying tribute to these young men, we must demand accountability from our political leaders, from the school board that refused to take action in Martin's case even though they knew ahead of time about threats against the boy, to the President of the United States. Politicians on both sides of the aisle--the openly bigoted and the indifferent and silent--are responsible for creating a climate of fear and scapegoating. We stand against bigotry and silence and demand recognition and justice for these young men.

Message from Jorge's mom, Miriam Mercado:



List of vigils happening across the country