BY NATASHA BARSOTTI – Friends and family of two teenaged lesbians who were shot in Portland, Texas, over the weekend have organized a candlelight vigil and walk in the park where the young women were found lying in knee-high grass. 
Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene in Violet Andrews Park. Mary Christine Chapa, 18, underwent surgery and is in serious but stable condition. Friends say the two women had been dating for five months.
The vigil and walk are scheduled for Friday, June 29 at 6pm.
Two more vigils — one also on June 29 in Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle area, and the other to be held Wednesday, June 27 at San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Plaza — have been organized.
Long-time gay rights activist Cleve Jones has called for nationwide vigils in the wake of the tragedy.
In a Facebook posting, Jones says, “Last Friday, as millions of LGBT people and their allies were celebrating Pride, something awful happened in Portland, Texas. We need to respond publicly to this tragedy. Whoever shot Mary Christine Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, whatever the motive, regardless of where it happened, two beautiful girls were shot and one was killed. We need to honour the memory of Mollie and pray for the recovery of Mary.
“Please, take some time to organize public vigils for Mollie and Mary in your communities this week.”
Jones says he’ll post the places and times of any vigils on a Facebook site.
Already, some people have responded to Jones’s call, saying they are in the midst of organizing vigils in Washington State and in Toronto.
As of this posting, police are still looking for suspects and a motive in the shootings.
Landing image source: usnews.msnbc.msn.com
Why you can trust Xtra
