Vigil Held in Barrio Logan for Missing Guerrero Students

Mass protests are expected in parts of Mexico Thursday in response to political corruption and the disappearance of 43 students from a rural college in Guerrero.

The students were last seen alive Sept. 26 in the city of Iguala when police reportedly attacked a group of student protesters, killing six people and taking away dozens of students.

Mexico's Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam recently offered evidence of hundreds of charred fragments of bone and teeth fished from a river but admitted it would be difficult to extract DNA to confirm identities of the victims.

At Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Barrio Logan, Wednesday night's mass was dedicated to the missing students.

“We're very upset by this situation we're saying ‘no mas,’” said Enrique Morones with Border Angels. Morones has been a community activist for years, working on immigrants' rights.

He worked with Father John from the church to dedicate the mass.

“We're saying we can't have any more disappearances, killings,” said Morones.

Morones said although violence may erupt Thursday, their group wants to focus on peace.

“It's also the dawn of Ferguson, Missouri - another situation where there could be violence and of course there’s Obama's announcement [Thursday],” he said referring to the president's statement on immigration reform.

“We want to set the tone for all of them. We want to be heard but in a peaceful manner.”

More than a hundred people gathered after the mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. They said each of the 43 names of the 43 missing students, following each name with “presente.”

Although the students may not be with us anymore, Father John explained, their spirits are still present.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us