Community honors 11-year-old Pasadena girl viciously murdered.
A vigil was held Friday night filled with Guatemalan traditions, in honor of 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez. Her father, Carmelo Gonzalez said it is hard to express how he feels after his daughterโs murder at the Main Village Apartments. Police said he found her body wrapped in plastic and inside of a laundry basket that was placed under the bed. Investigators said she was strangled and sexually assaulted while he was at work Saturday afternoon.
Vigil held at Discovery Green to end Asian hate
HOUSTON โ Hundreds gathered at Discovery Green Saturday to denounce Asian hate and mourn the eight people lost in Atlantaโs spa shootings earlier this week. The vigil was put on by the OCA-Greater Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well being Asian Pacific Americans. In the crowd, there were signs of love and others asking for the end to Asian hate. According to the OCA-Greater Houston, there have been 3,800 local hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since March of 2020. AdSix of the eight victims were of Asian descent, despite that though the shooter claims the shooting was not racially motivated.
St. Lukeโs United holding public vigil to honor 500,000+ lives lost to COVID-19
HOUSTON โ St. Lukeโs United Methodist Church is hosting a vigil in memory of the more than 500,000 Americans who lost their lives to the coronavirus. Church members honored those lives with 500 luminarias placed on the front lawn of both Westheimer and Gethsemane campuses. On Friday, the Westheimer campus located at 3471 Westheimer in Houston will have the final vigil from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.โLent is a time when the church comes face-to-face with our own mortality, and the COVID-19 pandemic made this reality unavoidable. During this season of Lent, we are devastated by the loss of more than 500,000 lives to this virus and want to honor the memories of those who passed with 500 luminarias lit around the front lawn of the church,โ the church stated. The community is free to come to walk among the luminarias to pray, reflect, and keep the memories of those we lost this year alive.
Prayer vigil held for Tompkins High School student injured in violent crash
On Sunday, friends, family and many others gathered at a Chick Fil A in Katy where he works for a candlelight prayer vigil. โFather God we just come before you with these sweet children on behalf of their brother Sam,โ one woman said. Sam is 17 years old and is a senior student at Tompkins High School in Katy. Sam is a wide receiver and Head Football Coach Todd McVey says Sam is a good kid who can do it all. If you would like to help Sam and his family, more information can be found on the Tompkins Football Facebook page.
#EndSARS movement spreading in Houston; first-generation Nigerian Americans speak out about the violence
The violence erupted during peaceful protests that were meant to bring to light rampant abuses at the hands of police. Mayor Sylvester Turner, several community leaders and people gathered Friday night at Houstonโs city hall to remember the young lives lost during the peaceful protest in Nigeria. Peter Uwalaka and Elizabeth Opara are members of the UIU chapter in Houston and are first-generation Nigerian Americans. People tired of the violence against peaceful protest and police brutality. On Saturday, the Houston UIU Chapter will have a protest march to bring awareness to the atrocities in Nigeria.
Turkey Leg Hut to hold virtual vigil for George Floyd Saturday
HOUSTON โ The Turkey Leg Hut will hold a virtual vigil Saturday to honor and mourn the loss of George Floyd, the Houston man who was killed Monday in Minneapolis police custody. The public is asked to release yellow and red balloons in honor of George Floyd virtually as TLH said they are continuing to practice social distancing. The TLH asked everyone to virtually post their balloon release and tag the Turkey Leg Hutโs Instagram to show support virtually while staying safe. Turkey Leg Hut co-founder Lynn Price said she attended Jack Yates High School and grew up down the street from George Floyd in Houstonโs Third Ward. โThe Turkey Leg Hut is a pillar in this community and we want to show that we can peacefully and respectfully honor George and his family and show our support and solidarity together in times like this,โ Price said.