Rio Grande Memorial Vigil to Mark the Lives Lost at the Border in August
PRESS ADVISORY.
August 31, 2023
Eagle Pass, TX – “In times of struggle we must remember that humanity transcends borders, race, language, and nationality. The lives that have been lost are a tragedy to us all, and we must mourn them, as fellow people” says Carlos Longoria, a high school senior from Eagle Pass, Texas.
On Monday, September 4, at 7:00 PM, a memorial vigil will be held on the banks of the Rio Grande to mark the lives of those who have died on our border. The ceremony is organized by the Eagle Pass Border Vigil, a local group that believes that life is precious and those who have died should be remembered. Guests are encouraged to wear white and bring white flowers.
Jessie Fuentes of Epi’s Canoe and Kayak team invites everyone to attend, saying “The loss of life in the Río Grande merits attention from everyone in our community. Please take the time to join us as we commemorate the incredible number of lives that were lost in and around our community of Eagle Pass Texas these last few years.”
The vigil will feature clergy, community members, and youth speakers. When available, the names of those who have died in the last month will be read aloud. At the conclusion of the vigil, the gates to the river will be opened and flowers will be released onto the waves of the Rio Grande. The vigil will also include music, poetry, and prayers.
The vigil aims to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis at the US Mexico border, where more than 500 people have died this year, according to US Customs and Border Protection statistics. Many of them drowned in the Rio Grande River, which separates Texas from Mexico. Others died from dehydration, exposure, or violence.
“It is important that these vigils are held because every death is not only a loss for them, but for us here in Eagle Pass. There have been over 500 deaths this year and these vigils give us a chance to connect and mourn together as a community,” says Rodrigo Lozano, Jr., a senior at CC Winn High School.
The vigil is supported by the Eagle Pass Car & Bike Community, a local group that promotes car and bike culture in Eagle Pass. They will hold a car show at 6:00 PM at the Maverick County Lake, where they will display their vehicles. After a car and driver blessing, they will then depart from Maverick County Lake for a Main Street Cruise to the vigil site, where they will join the rest of the participants. Vintage and custom vehicle drivers interested in participating in the car show and Main Street cruise are encouraged to register for the car show as soon as possible.
Eagle Pass’s Maximo Vallejo, now a freshman at UNT Denton, said: “These vigils are so important to the community because we cannot just let these injustices continue to happen at edge of our town let alone the Rio Grande, each person that has passed has only ever wanted a better life. I hope someday soon there will be peace at the border.”
Karen Gonzalez of the Border Organization said “The vigil in Eagle Pass commemorating the needless lives lost along the Rio Grande is important to show our humanity. We stand in solidarity with the immigrants and the river because THEY MATTER. This isn’t a political issue, rather a humanitarian one. Even one life lost is one too many.”
The organizers invite everyone who cares about human rights and dignity to attend the vigil and support the communities affected by the border deaths. Please wear white and bring white flowers. The vigil will be held at the Shelby Park Boat Ramp, located at 220 Main Street in Eagle Pass. For more information, please contact BorderVigil @ gmail.com or visit fb.com/BorderVigil
