A Vigil of Hope in Stamford

From the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

The Latino Network, with support from the Unitarian Universalist Congregational of Stamford, will take action on behalf of the painful migration drama in which thousands of brothers and sisters in their efforts to reach the United States, and escape poverty and violence in their homelands, have disappeared during their journey.

An open invitation is extended to the public to participate in the “Vigil of Hope: Where are our missing brothers?”, to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, at 20 Forest Street, in downtown Stamford, CT on Sunday afternoon February 8th from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

“The Vigil of Hope”, according to the Latino Network, aims to raise awareness among citizens in support of the families of missing people, in their daily struggles to find them. According to Amnesty International in a report presented to the United Nations, there are more than 40,000 missing persons in the world. The Mexican State Attorney reported 43 missing students in Iguala-Guerrero; in Ecuador, a report from the Ministry of Migrants says up until 2010, there was a record of 200 missing Ecuadorians at the border. At the law offices of 1-800-Migrante, located in Cuenca, Ecuador, contains a file of 96 missing fingerprints and family members continue looking for the missing.

The Stamford Police, on Christmas Eve, reported the disappearance of Paulino “Pablo” Mendoza from Guatemala, near Cove Road. Likewise, the Norwalk Police called for support to find a teenage, Karen Vanessa Chirino, who disappeared in early 2015.

Local public officials have extended their support to the vigil, as well as local artists and community organizations, which will provide support and solidarity to this cause in order to continue creating public awareness. Community activists will focus attention on calling of all levels of governments to take action on the matter and create an avalanche in social media and communication networks, so that local police will continue to find clues that lead to finding the missing.

Speaking about the importance of the Vigil of Hope, Rev. Dr. Frances Sink, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, said, “This very real problem of missing love ones weighs heavily on many members of our local Latino community. Families of the missing here, in South America, and in between lack the support and investigative resources they need to search for their loved ones. Whatever one’s position on US immigration reform, this is a humanitarian crisis that is a moral concern for us all.”

The afternoon vigil will feature the testimony of Ramiro Salinas, whose brother was lost on his way to crossing the border between Mexico and Texas. Thanks to faith-based and family efforts to look for him day after day, he returned home after nearly four years of being missing and currently resides in Norwalk, CT. The vigil includes the participation of local artists: Isaac Martinez from Honduras, Carlos Fallaque from Peru, Bryan Amaya from Chile, and rising star Lu Miranda, from Ecuador; who will perform songs that promote peace, tolerance and a sense of community.

If you would like to participate in the vigil and if you know of someone missing, you may contact Luis Yumbla, president of Latino Network at (203) 667-3799.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation is located in downtown Stamford, 20 Forest Street, at the corner of Forest and Prospect Streets. Parking is available in the Bedford Street garage. For more information contact the UUC office by phone (203) 348-0708, email admin@uustamford.org or the new UUC website. www.uustamford.org.