In the past five years, over 570 people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents, relatives or caregivers.
On Friday, March 1st, the disability community will gather across the nation 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 50 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.
Since 2012, ASAN and other disability rights organizations have come together to send a clear message that disability is not a justification for violence. To learn more or sign up to lead a vigil, view the Anti-Filicide toolkit.
We will be hosting our Virtual Vigil on Friday, March 1st – and we hope to see you there if you cannot find or attend a vigil in your area.
COVID-19
Some Day of Mourning vigils are virtual, while others are in-person. We recommend that each person consider the potential risks, and make sure to wear a mask and social distance if you attend an in-person vigil. If you are concerned about attending a vigil in-person, please consider attending ours or another virtual vigil in your area.
All vigils below are virtual unless otherwise noted.
2024 Vigil Sites
USA
ASAN Virtual Vigil
Online
US Gender and Disability Justice Alliance Virtual Vigil
Online
US Gender and Disability Justice Alliance.
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA
Claremont, CA—In Person
The Claremont Colleges.
CIDSA, DISCOVR, 7C On the Spectrum: [email protected]
INDIANA
Muncie, IN—In Person (Virtual option available, please email.)
Hoosier Alliance for Neurodiversity.
Samuel Johnson: [email protected]
MARYLAND
College Park, MD
University of Maryland.
[email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS
Bridgewater, MA
Student Accessibility Services at Bridgewater State University.
Aliza Bridge: [email protected]
Boston, MA
Berklee College.
(with Disability Culture at the University of Michigan
and Disability Alliance and Caucus at Virginia Tech).
[email protected]
MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor, MI
Disability Culture at the University of Michigan.
(with Disability Alliance and Caucus at Virginia Tech
and Berklee College).
[email protected]
MINNESOTA
Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Autistic Alliance.
Casey Velcko: [email protected]
NEW JERSEY
Edison, NJ—In Person
Luke Koppisch: [email protected]
NEW YORK
Albany, NY
NY Assn. on Independent Living, Not Dead Yet.
Blaise Bryant: [email protected]
Rochester, NY
Disability Moving Assistance, Inc.
Ericka Glick: [email protected]
OREGON
Portland, OR
Nuerodivergent Solutions.
Lanie: [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
Collegeville, PA—In Person (Virtual option available, please email.)
Ursinus College
Jennifer Frymiare: [email protected]
Erie, PA—In Person
Supportive Living Services.
Michelle Wolf: [email protected]
Gettysburg, PA—In Person
Phoenix Rising (ASAN Affiliate) at Gettysburg College.
[email protected]
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy.
Cori Fraser: [email protected]
TENNESSEE
Clarkesville, TN—In Person
Inclusify Me!
[email protected]
Johnson City, TN
Courtney Johnson: [email protected]
TEXAS
Houston, TX
Tuskegee University.
Nichorian MardIs Jr.: [email protected]
Arlington, TX—In Person
Self Determination Group at The Arc of DFW.
[email protected]
WASHINGTON
Ellensburg, WA
Central Washington University Accessibility Studies Club.
CM Wright: [email protected]
WISCONSIN
Madison, WI
Disability Cultural Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Helen Rottier: [email protected]
VIRGINIA
Arlington, VA
ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV).
Suraksha Attila Surio: [email protected]
Blacksburg, VA
Disability Alliance and Caucus at Virginia Tech
(with Berklee College
and Disability Culture at the University of Michigan).
[email protected]
Williamsburg, VA—In Person
College of William and Mary.
Neurodiversity Student Group: [email protected]
BRAZIL
MARANHÃO
São Luís—In Person
Instituto Tassio Rocha.
[email protected]
CANADA
ONTARIO
Toronto
Autistics for Autistics.
[email protected]
ONTARIO
Toronto—In Person
Disability Action Now (DAN) Toronto.
[email protected]