Vigils

Last edited: January 03, 2012

This content is available in

Options
Options

Vigils are silent protest assemblies of people that take place during the normal hours of sleep and usually last several hours. In a candlelit vigil, participants hold candles. Most vigils are held to commemorate sad events. For example, candlelit vigils have been organized in cities where Señorita Extraviada/Missing Young Woman (by Lourdes Portillo, produced by Independent Television Service Production, USA 2001) was screened, a documentary film about the tragic disappearances and murders of hundreds of young women from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, since the 1990s.

 

Tips for vigils

  • Organize the vigil carefully in advance with a core group of participants so that you do not need to break the silence during the vigil. Designate a few participants who can quietly explain the purpose of the vigil to media representatives or to passers-by if needed.
  • Choose a fitting, high-profile venue, advertise for the vigil in advance and invite the media to cover the event. Place at least one large poster in a visible spot to advertise your cause. You can also quietly hand out leaflets, and set up a table with lists to collect signatures for a petition.
  • For a candlelit vigil, use candles in transparent jars to protect the flame against the wind. You can ask each participant to bring one, or centrally organize a few dozen large candles and place them around the assembly.