In the past five years, over 550 people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents, relatives or caregivers.

On Wednesday, March 1st, the disability community will gather virtually across the world to remember these disabled victims of filicide – disabled people murdered by their family members or caregivers.

In the year since our last vigil, our community has lost over 60 more people to filicide. These are just the cases that we are aware of – since we began monitoring this issue, we learn about more murders every week. We read the victims’ names, see their photographs, and gather what information we can about their lives. The criminal justice system has continued to give lighter sentences to parents and caregivers who murder disabled children. And we have seen the news media continue to portray these murders in a sympathetic light. 

We hold the Day of Mourning vigils to draw attention to these injustices, to commemorate the lives of victims, and demand justice and equal protection under the law for all people with disabilities. Join us for an in-person or virtual vigil on Wednesday, March 1st.

Since 2012, ASAN and other disability rights organizations have come together to send a clear message that disability is not a justification for violence. COVID-19 may have changed how we are gathering this year, but we can still honor and remember those we’ve lost to filicide. Everyone is welcome at our Virtual Vigil, or click here to see a list of all vigils. Feel free to choose one local to you, or plan to join one whose time or platform works best for you.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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