Public Vigil for Ernesto Garcia

(Art by Andrew Willis)

On August 30, a homeless man named Ernesto Garcia was beaten to death in the alley behind the 1800 block of N. Ridgeway in Logan Square. We have learned that he was an immigrant from Guatamala who had been in the community for about 10 years and had connected to our community through Center for Changing Lives and area churches. Because he has no family to grieve his death, the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance has scheduled a public vigil for Mr. Garcia. It is our intent that a vigil will give Mr. Garcia the dignity he deserves and will allow us all to grieve his death. It is also an opportunity to advocate for the needs of men and women who daily face exposure to harm because of housing insecurity.

The vigil for Mr. Garcia will take place at the Logan Square Eagle Monument on Thursday, September 11, starting at 6:30 pm. Please pass this information along to your social networks and organizational contacts.

Bruce Ray
Pastor
Kimball Avenue Church

Vigilia Publica para Sr. Ernesto Garcia: Vecino y Hijo de Dios
(See full photo gallery)

Remarks from: Lissette Castaneda, Center for Changing
Lives (l) and Tanya Lane, Alliance of Local Service
Organizations (ALSO) (r)

VIGILIA EN MEMORIA DE 

ERNESTO GARCIA

En Agosto 30, Ernesto Garcia, un hombre desamparado fue atacado y golpeado a muerte en el callejón de la cuadra 1900 Norte de Ridgeway en la comunidad de Logan Square. Hemos aprendido que Ernesto quien solo estaba días por cumplir 59 años y imigrante de Guatemala habia vivido en la comunidad por un promedio de diez años. El había conectado con residentes y la comunidad por medio de Center for Changing Lives e iglesias en el area. Ya que Ernesto no tiene familia identificada para compartir en el duelo de su muerte, La Alianza Ecumenica de Logan Square está organizando una vigilia pública en memoria del Señor Ernesto Garcia.

Es nuestra intención que esta vigilia/velorio exprese la dignidad que el Señor Garcia merece y un espacio para juntos compartir en el duelo de su muerte al igual de ser una voz fuerte en abogacía y solidaridad por las necesidades de las mujeres, niños y hombres que diariamente estan expuestos a violencia por falta de vivienda.

La Vigilia de el Señor Garcia se llevara acabo en el monumneto de la Aguila en Logan Square que se encuentra en la Milwaukee y Kedzie este septiembre 11 a las 6:30 de la tarde.

Porfavor pase la informacion y unase a nosotros en este momento tan crucial. La vigilia sera bilingue.

(l-r) Pastor Luiz Munoz, Pastor Eardley Mendis, Delia Ramirez, Pastor
Bruce Ray, Pastor Pastora Paula Cripps-Vallejo, Pastor Erik Christensen.
(See full photo gallery)

Related posts

The City of Chicago is finally taking action to preserve single room occupancy (SRO) buildings, which prevent homelessness. But developer Mark Fishman, who wants to buy the Milshire Hotel, refuses to meet with our community to explain his plans for the building.

(See Tuesday September 23 - "Logan Square for All" Rally)






Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance plans for October, November, and December (2014) will focus on our housing advocacy, culminating with posada events in December.

(See Looking Ahead: Posada Planning for December )