On Saturday night, the Cayo community will have a vigil for Jasmine Lowe - the 12 year old girl who was murdered earlier this week. The disturbing murder has left many Belizeans in shock, and paralyzed by fear. But it has spurred one citizen into action. Dianne Finnegan stopped by our studios today to encourage Belizeans to stand in solidarity and protest against the violence. She told us how you can do your part:

Dianne Finnegan
"When I heard the announcement about the vigil in Cayo, even though the outcry is tremendous nationwide, all of us won't be able to go to Cayo and so what better way of expressing our solidarity than right where we are at."

"I am asking that countrywide you go to your nearby park - you choose a place that you would like to hold this vigil. Come out with your candle and t-shirt. This is not just about Jasmine, this is about standing in solidarity and saying we've got to do something and I think we've been settling for too long."

"If we don't do something now I think what we are doing is actually inviting and saying it's okay we can deal with, it's going to last just a few days and then we go on as business as usual. No, as a mother, for me the sadness continues - the cry continues that we've got to stand in solidarity with parents, with mothers who are out there really feeling this hurt."

The candlelight ceremony in the Belize district will begin at 7 tomorrow evening at the Battlefield Park to coincide with the simultaneous candlelight vigil in San Ignacio Town.

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Prayer and candlelight vigil for Jasmine

Supporters of the Lowe family are holding a vigil tonight and another is planned for Saturday night. If you are unable to attend the San Ignacio prayer vigils for Jasmine Lowe, a simultaneous vigil will take place at the Battlefield Park in Belize City on Saturday night. Activist, Diane Finnegan says that city residents should stand in solidarity with the family. Finnegan told News Five that there should be an outcry by the entire nation and in every district we should all play our role and do what you can by coming out in a white T-shirt to local parks on Saturday night.

Diane Finnegan, Activist

“The nation is saying that we are concerned, we are really saddened and there is something that we must do in order to minimize this hurt and sadness that is plaguing our country. And I thought that what better way for each of us to manifest the fact that it is truly affecting us; if we can do it right where we are at. So I’m really asking everyone within the different districts: just come out, go to your nearby park, come out in solidarity with your white t-shirt and your candle. And seven o’clock when Cayo really starts their vigil, countrywide we would be doing the same. In Belize, I am asking that we all meet at the Battlefield Park which is very central, we go out there and we just express our solidarity with Cayo. The fact that it is not just about Jasmine; it is about all the other young girls who we’ve lost because of this cruel crime against our young children. I am a mom of two—I have a daughter and I also have a young son—and I am concerned as a mom. So it’s important that we express our solidarity for this. We still have two young boys who are missing, who have not turned up as yet. And I think prayers does wonders and I think if we come together as a nation and speak out and pray and just chant our desires of what we would like the Father to do; how we expect him to intervene in such an initiative.”

A vigil is also taking place at the Central Park in Punta Gorda on Saturday night.

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Scouts from Jaguar troop along with other scouts, family and friends are memorializing Jasmine Lowe at this hour at the Shining Light Baptist church in Georgeville village.

Truly heartbreaking! A precious child taken way too soon that had so much to give....

Candle-Light Remembrances For Jasmine Lowe

ON Saturday a NUMBER OF candle light vigils were held in the memory of Jasmine Lowe and as a form of protest against the vicious crimes and murders occurring in Belize.

The main ceremony in Cayo, which began at 7 o'clock was a success, and was described by one as "a sea of candle flames." Before the ceremony began, some supporters gave out 50 meals to some homeless people who regularly congregate in the Macal River Park where the vigil was held. This was to create a multifaceted effort for social justice reform. During the ceremony The Galen University 'Eagles' played meaningful songs, and the Chairperson of the Peoples Coalition of Cayo, Albert Moore, offered strategies to confront crime and urged the community to come together to quote "obey the laws of our land." And Cayo wasn't the only district protesting crime that night. The Belize Sea Scouts joined in solidarity and hosted a simultaneous vigil at the Seashore Park In Buttonwood Bay in the Belize District. They were joined by young sailors from the Belize Sailing Association along with their family, friends and sympathizers.

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