On Friday, March 1st, the disability community will gather virtually and across the nation to remember disabled victims of filicide – and we need your help to make sure their lives are recognized. Each year, people gather around the world to mourn together and to demand justice and equal protection for all people with disabilities. COVID-19 may have changed how we hold events this year, but we can still honor and remember those we’ve lost to filicide.

Thanks to the hard work of our vigil site coordinators, over 45 vigils were held worldwide last year.  Site coordinators do vital work in their communities. They secure space in their communities to hold a vigil, do outreach to community members leading up to the vigil, and document their vigils through pictures or videos to honor those lost to filicide. 

Given the ongoing pandemic, vigils should be virtual unless it is safe to do so in-person. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, virtual events are the only way to ensure there is no COVID transmission for attendees. Here are some steps you can take to assess risks of transmission in your area if you are considering hosting an in-person event:

• Look up COVID-19 Current Wastewater Viral Activity and vaccination rates in your area.
• If there is very little COVID-19 circulating in your area and vaccination rates are high, it may be safe to hold an in-person event with mitigation measures like masking.
• If these things aren’t true, you may be able to hold a vigil outside or hold a virtual vigil.
• Please look at current rates, consult your local government, and look at news sources to determine safety. If you are unsure, it is safest to hold a virtual vigil.
• We can help you plan a virtual event that brings your local disability community together safely and significantly for this important day. 

Click here to learn more about what site coordinators do, or to sign up to lead a vigil.

Since 2012, ASAN and other disability rights organizations have come together to send a clear message that disability is not a justification for violence. We’ll be at our virtual vigil on Friday, March 1st – and we hope to see you there.

If you’re interested in leading a vigil in your area, either virtual or in-person, please sign up to be a Day of Mourning vigil site coordinator.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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