Women’s Coalition Event Sunday to Remember St. Croix Homicide Victims

The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix is offering a safe space for surviving loved ones of homicide victims to feel supported, with a special event Sunday to mark the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.

“Healing and Speaking Our Pain: Remembering Our Loved Ones,” with activities focused on mindfulness, self-care, creative expression and the observance of the National Day of Remembrance, will be held at the coalition’s new community space at 7 East St., in Christiansted. The event will start at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Participants are asked to please wear their T-shirts, hats or other garments created in memory of their loved one, or the colors of the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, which are red and black.

Health and safety measures against the spread of COVID-19 will be observed: mask wearing is required, and sanitizing stations will be available.

“You cannot put a time limit on the effects of losing a loved one to homicide, or on healing,” noted Clema S. Lewis, WCSC’s executive director, in a press release announcing the event. “We want the families directly affected by loss, and everyone in our communities, to know that support is available from the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix.”

The program for the event will include a mindfulness activity, facilitated by Charlene Springer, and an open mic “Speak Out” for surviving loved ones to express their feelings. The Wall of Remembrance, a visual presentation of the names of murder victims on St. Croix since 1974, will be viewed during the traditional “Moment of Silence,” and the St. Croix Remembrance Quilt, created and presented to WCSC last year by Aida Almestica-Franco and family, will be on display.

To date, there have been 20 homicides on St. Croix this year, and 27 total in the territory. Ending violence is an important aspect of the National Day of Remembrance and a focus of WCSC’s response to this significant issue.