I came to Colorado yesterday to participate in the vigil for Angie Zapata in Greeley last night. It was one of those events that has a profound impact – I have goose-bumps thinking about it as I write this.
Angie’s family is absolutely amazing. Words can’t express how much respect, admiration, and affection I feel for them. One speaker put it very eloquently – talking about how if more people raised their kids the way that the Zapata’s do this world would be a much better place. Amen to that.
Although the main goal was to celebrate Angie’s life there’s no way to get past the grief and the anger that many there felt about this senseless, needless tragedy. But the message was one of uplifting spirits, of turning our negative energies into positive outlets, and of ensuring that the memory and the spirit of Angie Zapata lives on in each of us. It was very a emotional event for many, as each of us could feel what happened in a very personal and profound way.
I’ll have more to say about it but need to get packed – my flight leaves for Rochester a little later. I wanted to share some thoughts here while they’re still fresh.
The Greeley Tribune was there and ran a story about this morning (read it here).
I took some video of the event and hope to have that available some time soon.
And, I’ve uploaded my photos of the event so those who weren’t there can share in it. They don’t come close to capturing the emotion of the event, but I’m honored to have been a part of it.
Here’s a slide show of my photos. Or, click here to go to the slideshow on the Webshots page – the photos have captions and descriptions:
Angie Zapata Vigil – Greeley, CO – Aug. 9, 2008
I’ll add other photos that people share from the event as I receive them.
Very powerful photos, especially the last few. Thank you for capturing those moments. They’re just heartbreaking.
My prayers go out to Angie’s families and friends. She will be remembered.
Donna,
This is an article that should be posted on Bilerico.
My heart aches for her family and other loved ones.
[...] Read more…. [...]
thank you a lot for posting these… angie was a friend of mine i knew her as justin but i respect and call her by angie.. we all grew up in the little town of ft lupton and i was good friends with her sister ashley so i am sadden by this tragic death… angie was brave and like you have said no one knows what really happen all we have is his side of the story so people shouldnt say its angies fault.. she isnt here to tell her side and people need to keep that in mind… rip angie we love you… and my thoughts and prayers are with her families and our friends.
Thankyou so much for posting these pics for the one’s that couldn’t be there. My we keep the family in our prayers.
I certainly understand the sadness of this issue, but can someone convince me that Justin was not a man impersonating a woman? Also, can no one convince me that rage would not be a normal response to a situation where someone is raped by someone fo the same sex? Truly, consent was made to a woman, not a man. Unwanted sexual contact is rape and Justin, in my opinion, was a rapist. Not deserving of death, in this case, but still, a rapist.
My heart goes out to all who are in pain from this tragic murder. From reading several sites, many family and friends gave wonderful testimonies to how wonderful this person was. I am confused. Was this person still physically a man? Are family and friends respecting the memory by referring to this person as a woman, or was this person actually considered by law to be a woman? I thought an operation must be performed to be a different sex. I am truely asking because I don’t know and I want to be informed. Thank you.
I truly believe this is a tragic event and no one deserves to die with such violence. I in no way condone the suspects actions but, can not quite say what i would do given the circumstances. I believe Angie was still finding her place in the world and perhaps didn’t use her best judgement in being truthful. I can see how when you are still accepting yourself how you would think others would have a reservations, too…She was still young and still finding herself, but, the sadness of it all is there are so many people who would have liked/loved her regardless of what she was given at birth. To me, that is the tragedy….I think why would such a lovely young person think someone(suspect) of standards beneath them were worthy of them. For all those finding yourself, understanding who you are…do not think you are less than, don’t give yourself such low standards–reach for the sky. You would not be given the chance (in a time like the present) to be who you are meant to be…Don’t waste it on reaching down…reach high..
THE PERSON WHO SAID ANGIE WAS A RAPIST IS BLATANTLY IGNORANT. SHE WAS ONLY BEING WHAT SHE COULD, A FEMALE, AND THIS MAN WAS WITH PICTURES POSTED ON A BI-SEXUAL SITE LOOKING FOR BOTH MALE AND FEMALE PARTNERS, SO I DONT THINK HE WAS FRIGHTENED BY MALE GENETALIA. I THINK BY THE WAY HE LOOKS HE IS MENTALLY CHALLANGED AND WHEN PSYCH REPORT COMES OUT IT WILL BE SHOWN. SOME LATENT HOMOSEXUAL MEN CANNOT DEAL WITH THE FACT THEY ARE JUST THAT GAY OR HAVE FEELINGS CRAVINGS FOR SEX WITH MALE GENTALIA. IF YOU LOOK IN THE SHEMALE WORLD, YOU WILL FIND MOST OF THEIR ADMIRERS ARE SO CALLED STR8 MEN WHO WANT THE BEST OF BEST WORLDS. SO PLEASE DONT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS WHEN YOU DONT KNOW ALL THE FACTS. FACT IS HE IS A MUDERER AND BEAT HER BRAINS OUT, HE DESERVES THE LETHAL INJECTION. BY THE WAY I DONT OR WILL EVER HAVE THIS PROBLEM I AM A POST OP TRANSSEXUAL AND I HAVE FEMALE GENETALIA, AND I AM SPEAKING OUT FOR ALL THE TRANSSEXUALS, THIS IS MURDER!!!!!!!!!! AND ALSO A HATE CRIME, HE DESERVES TO DIE!
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Zapata family. Its a shame that animals like A.A. exist. I hope he enjoys the rest of his life on earth in hell(prison) and in God’s hell when he gets there.
I didn’t know Angie, she seemed like a beautiful person. I can only hope her death will strengthen the rest of the world in recognizing that “all” of us are different in one way or another and that everyone should be treated with respect and as a fellow human being. I only hope that this tragedy will wakeup the legislaters to enact federal & state laws to see that everyone is protected as equal human beings.
I know in my heart Angie is now with God and God must have had a greater need for her than we did here on earth. Hopefully she did not die in vain and that her death will bring forth much needed change to protect everyone’s right to live as they choose.
May God Bless her and her family. I hope the message deliverd by the jury heard in Colorado is heard by all.
A poem I wrote for Angie
Angie
Angie was just a person like you or I
full of life…not ready to die
Because of the hate in the world we see
Poor little Angie lives on as a memory
Angie, Angie, you took a stand
you were a bright star in this ugly land
brave as brave as one can be,
you stood tall for who you wanted to be
You paid with your life for just being free
by another who judged you wrongfully
your name is well known now, and has set the stage
the message is clear – get rid of the rage
Although she’s gone, and he’s behind bars
Just look in the sky, she’s there with the stars
She’s the bright one up there, the first that you see
Looking down on us, hoping everyone will be free.
Well, It hasn’t ended here my friends
In fact the lessons just begun
We the People stand with Angie
to Protect the rights of everyone
KEC 4/23/09
written in Memory of Angie Zapata