Council proclaims Sept. 23 National Day of Remembrance for murder victims; survivors urge support at candlelight vigil
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Summary
The council proclaimed Sept. 23 a day of remembrance for homicide victims and invited the public to a candlelight vigil Sept. 25; survivors and chapter president spoke about grief, advocacy and the event’s role in community healing.
The Mission City Council proclaimed Sept. 23, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims in Mission and welcomed survivors and the Rio Grande Valley chapter of Parents of Murdered Children to address the council.
Chief Torres introduced the proclamation, which notes that the national observance was established by Parents of Murdered Children and recognized by congressional resolutions in 2007. Robert Garcia, president of the Rio Grande Valley chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, told the council his brother, Rogelio Raju Garcia, was murdered in 2011 and described the organization’s work supporting survivors and advocating for prevention. Garcia said, “No survivor should grief alone,” and described the annual candlelight vigil scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the José “Pepe” Salinas Memorial Recreational Center, 1011 West Kelly Avenue.
Garcia read a list of names of local victims the chapter will remember at the vigil, including Rogelio Raju Garcia, Joelisa Socorro Rajil, George Tovar, Efrain Garcia, Daniel Vega, Julio Cesar Villareal, Corporal Jose Luis, and Sergio Torres. He thanked the mayor, council and chief for the proclamation and urged community participation in remembrance and survivor support.
Other speakers emphasized the proclamation’s role in raising awareness, advocating for victim services and preventing future homicides. The council approved the proclamation on a unanimous vote. Representatives and survivors were invited to take a photograph with the council following the vote.
The proclamation invites media, elected officials and victims’ service providers to the 13th annual candlelight vigil; the council recorded the proclamation date as Sept. 23, 2025.