Vigil for Pierre: ICE Out

Pierre Damas Bel was 20 years old. He graduated this spring as an honors student, a JROTC member, and a varsity soccer player. On August 24 he started his freshman year at a university. He wanted to study neuroscience and go on to medical school.

He died on Monday.

In June, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to strip Temporary Protected Status from Haitian immigrants, and Pierre was one of the hundreds of thousands who lost that protection. In July, immigration authorities summoned him and put a GPS monitor on his ankle. He wrote online about the shame and humiliation he carried after that. His father says he went back to ICE twice and asked, simply, to have it taken off so he could play soccer again.

His family and Haitian leaders in Springfield believe that weight is what took him.

Please join us for a peaceful vigil as we mourn Pierre and stand with every family, especially the Haitian community, which is living in fear and uncertainty.

Please come. Bring a candle if you have one.

All of our events are held in deep commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events.