Community Corner
Day of Mourning Vigil to be held at Georgian Court University
National event recognizes disabled people murdered by family members
Lakewood, N.J., February 22, 2018—Georgian Court University will participate in the National Day of Mourning with a March 1 vigil at the Dorothy Marron University Chapel located on GCU’s historic Lakewood campus. The event, slated for 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., includes prayer and a reading of the names of victims murdered by family members. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
The Day of Mourning, often hosted by disability rights advocates, honors the lives of disabled people killed by their caretakers. By honoring disabled victims of murder and celebrating the lives that they lived, participants in the vigils send a message: Disability is not a justification for violence.
“Every year, hundreds of people with disabilities are murdered by those who they should have trusted the most,” said Melanie Mogavero, Ph.D., an assistant professor of criminal justice at GCU. “Every year we gather to remember those precious, valuable, and innocent lives. We remember them, honor them, and seek justice for them.”
Mourning lives lost
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), which tracks these cases, has compiled a list of over 950 reported murders of people with disabilities by relatives or caregivers over the last 38 years. According to the organization, the total number of killings is likely higher than the amount which are reported in news media.
ASAN held the first Day of Mourning in 2012 as a response to the murder of George Hodgins, a 22-year-old autistic man from California, by his mother. ASAN has continued to organize the event each year, partnering with other disability rights groups including, Not Dead Yet, the National Council on Independent Living, the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, ADAPT, and the American Association of People with Disabilities. The Day of Mourning is a national event, with 20-30 participating cities each year.
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According to ASAN, little public attention is paid to the disabled victims of these violent acts. ASAN believes media coverage and public discourse about such killings frequently justifies them as “understandable” and sometimes “merciful,” rather than appropriately condemning these crimes and those who commit them.
The GCU event is free and open to the public. Registration is required and can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/disability-day-of-mourning-tickets-43135076174?aff=es2.
