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Comment by Paul Murphy on June 29, 2012 at 8:54am

Comment by Paul Murphy on June 28, 2012 at 10:20am

"Whoever shot Mary Christine Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, whatever the motive, regardless of where it happened, two beautiful girls were shot and one was killed. We need to honor the memory of Mollie and pray for the recovery of Mary. Please, take some time to organize public vigils for Mollie and Mary in your communities this week," he wrote to nearly 5,000 Facebook friends.

Since his first posting, vigils were organized in 12 cities. The first was held Wednesday in San Francisco.

Comment by Paul Murphy on June 28, 2012 at 10:19am

http://www.facebook.com/groups/103112096499837/

Mollie Olgin World Wide Tribute

http://www.facebook.com/events/303878063040730/

Below is a link to offer online condolences .

http://limbaugh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/115112/runtime.php?SiteI...

Comment by Paul Murphy on June 28, 2012 at 10:18am

http://www.facebook.com/groups/103112096499837/

Comment by Paul Murphy on June 28, 2012 at 10:17am

Nationwide vigils honor teens
By Paul Murphy in Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18 · Edit Doc · Delete

Nationwide vigils honor teens
By Michelle Villarreal
Posted June 28, 2012 at 6:34 a.m.

contributed photo Olgin shown in a Facebook photo

contributed photo Chapa (left) and Olgin, shown in a Facebook photo

PORTLAND — Organizations from California to Washington D.C. planned vigils in the memory of two teenagers found shot in a Portland park.

A call to honor the girls, one who survived and the other who died, went out on Facebook earlier this week.

On Monday, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights activist and founder of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, Cleve Jones, posted a plea for the nation to get involved by hosting vigils.

"Whoever shot Mary Christine Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, whatever the motive, regardless of where it happened, two beautiful girls were shot and one was killed. We need to honor the memory of Mollie and pray for the recovery of Mary. Please, take some time to organize public vigils for Mollie and Mary in your communities this week," he wrote to nearly 5,000 Facebook friends.

Since his first posting, vigils were organized in 12 cities. The first was held Wednesday in San Francisco.

Olgin and Chapa were found Saturday morning by visitors to Violet Andrews Park. The shootings mark the first homicide in Portland this year and have left the community in shock.

Olgin, 19, of Ingleside, died at the scene, and Chapa, 18, of Sinton, is listed in stable condition at an area hospital.

The Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation.

News organizations brought nationwide attention to the late Friday shooting of the two teens, emphasizing their romantic relationship. Many have questioned if the teens were shot as a hate crime.

Michael Diviesti, one of the lead organizers for Get Equal Texas, recognized Jones' request and helped organize the Corpus Christi, Austin and Dallas vigils.

He said the nation's activist community is small, but connected. So when Jones asked for local action, the community listened.

The national attention of the shooting began because of public speculation that they were killed because of their sexual orientation, Diviesti said. But now, people have established an emotional connection with the teens and care for them, he said.

He said the vigils are a way for people to express their concern for Chapa's recovery and to mourn Olgin's death.

"These two ladies were so young and had their lives ahead of them and had so much left to give to the world," he said. "It's certainly emotional."

Diviesti said he would have organized the vigils even if the girls weren't lesbians because the shooting was a horrific act.

Portland Police Chief Randy Wright has said there is no evidence that the shooting was a hate crime.

Wright could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but he did release an incident report of Friday's shooting. In the report, the shooting is not documented as a hate crime.

An informal celebration of Olgin's life is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Limbaugh Funeral Home in Portland.

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