Friends, family and LGBT activists are organizing vigils for 19-year-old Mollie Judith Olgin and 18-year-old Mary Christine Chapa, the teenage lesbian couple who were shot by a gunman in a Portland park this past weekend. Olgin has died from her wounds but Chapa is still in the hospital in serious condition.
No suspects have been arrested in the shooting, and police say that they cannot determine yet whether it was a hate crime. Meanwhile a makeshift memorial of "rainbow ribbons, goodbye messages, flowers and cut-out hearts" has been made at the crime scene. According to SheWired:
"Cleve Jones, an activist, contemporary of Harvey Milk, and the creator of the AIDS Memorial quilt put out a call for national organization of vigils in response to the crime.
Jones posted on Facebook regarding the tragedy and called on people to join him:
Last Friday, as millions of LGBT people and their allies were celebrating Pride, something awful happened in Portland, Texas. We need to respond publicly to this tragedy.
Whoever shot Mary Christine Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, whatever the motive, regardless of where it happened, two beautiful girls were shot and one was killed
We need to honor the memory of Mollie and pray for the recovery of Mary. Please, take some time to organize public vigils for Mollie and Mary in your communities this week.
Let me know the locations and times and I will post them here. Mary and Mollie loved each other. Now we need to show our love for them and their families and friends. Please share this and organize vigils in your hometowns."
So far, vigils have been scheduled in Portland, Texas, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. View the dates and times HERE.
Comments