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New Mexico Murder Victim Family Advocacy Project |
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Cities for Life
Nov 30 2009 7:30 am
Dec 6 2009 10:30 pm
Albuquerque, NM - From November 30th to December 6th, New Mexicans will join over 1000 cities throughout the world as we celebrate the World Day of Cities for Life and Cities Against the Death Penalty. Each November 30th, “Cities for Life” commemorates the anniversary the first European state abolished the death penalty - the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1786. In 2008, nearly a thousand cities, including 55 capitals, participated in the event making it the largest international mobilization to halt all executions in the world.
This year New Mexicans will celebrate from November 30th to December 6th by lighting a luminaria/farolito for abolition and Cities for Life. “We will take our luminaria/farolito lighting one step further this year,” says Viki Elkey, Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty. “We are asking New Mexicans and people across the globe to write a special message about repealing the death penalty in New Mexico on their lumninarias/farolitos, and light them on November 30th through December 6th. We will light them all week culminating with faith communities and churches around the state lighting them on December 6th with us as we celebrate this historic year in New Mexico.”
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Cities For Life lights a monument as a symbol against death penalty, declaring that there is no justice without life. Of the over 1000 cities participating this year, Rome will light the Coliseum, Brussels will illuminate the Atomium, and Barcelona will light Cathedral Square. New Mexicans will add our own special cultural tradition to the many other ways cities, towns, states and communities are celebrating life in 2009.
Allen Sanchez, who represents the Catholic Bishops in Mexico, remembers the traditions from the 1800s when they would light the way for the masses, guiding people to midnight Mass. Sanchez remembers “the Franciscans who lit the farolitos in Northern New Mexico for hope, and how the Franciscans also support abolition of the death penalty and respect for all life.” |
The Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome, Italy coordinates Cities for Life and Cities Against the Death Penalty. This is the same organization who helped light up the Coliseum in April in New Mexico’s honor, and working to abolish the death penalty is just one of many social justice causes they promote and work to implement. You can read about the amazing work they do for human rights across the globe at www.santegidio.org.
Luminarias, or farolitos are linked throughout history to the ancient tradition of communicating, warning and celebrating through linked bonfires. “Sant'Egidio has been an inspiration to the abolish movement around the world. We hope that New Mexico can help to inspire this nation to join with the world by repealing the death penalty in all of the United States,” says Holly Beaumont, Legislative Director for the NM Conference of Churches.
Ruth Hoffman with the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in New Mexico played a key role in efforts to abolish the death penalty, and looks forward to celebrating life in an abolitionist state. “Joining and communicating with 1000 other cities across the globe about abolition is quite fitting this year in New Mexico as we lead the way for humanity with this effort, and I am so proud to light my farolito this year in celebration of abolition and Cities for Life,” says Hoffman.
