🕯️ Disappeared in America — National Photo-Petition & Candlelight Vigil

📅 Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 — daytime (photo-petition) + evening (vigil) 📍 How to Participate: Publicly, wherever you are — Mobilize events in your area

What’s the Event About

• National Photo-Petition Day: Starting during the day on June 26, participants across the U.S. will take photos holding posters or portraits of individuals who’ve been unlawfully detained, disappeared, or otherwise “disappeared in America.” These images will be shared widely on social media to demand visibility, accountability, and due process.

• Evening Candlelight Vigils: At sunset on June 26, communities will gather for candlelight vigils. The goal: to shine a literal and figurative light on missing persons and victims of political violence, those who’ve been disappeared by government action or indifference.

• Coalition & Organizers: This action is organized by progressive democracy network Not Above the Law, leveraging the Mobilize platform for both photo and vigil components.

🎯 Why It Matters

• Fight Invisibility
  When people vanish without due process, their legal and moral rights are ignored. By publicly displaying their names and faces, this campaign pushes back against political erasure.

• Demand Respect for the Rule of Law
  The event emphasizes that no one—government officials included—is above the legal protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

• Build National Solidarity
  From big cities to small towns, this coordinated action sends a powerful collective message: “We see you. We remember you.”

How You Can Join In

1. Find an Event Near You
   Visit the Mobilize page (org 31935) and search for your city’s photo-petition or evening vigil.

2. Host Your Own Gathering
   Mobilize offers organizers the tools to create local actions—from park meetups to courthouse vigils.

3. Create a Photo-Petition
   Take a simple photo with a poster stating someone’s name or a clear demand: “Where is John Doe?” or “Stop Disappearing People.”

4. Attend the Vigil
   Bring a candle or purchase one locally. Gather safely and respectfully in public: town squares, community centers, local government buildings.

5. Share on social media
   Use a consistent hashtag (e.g., #DisappearedInAmerica2025) plus Mobilize information. Tag local press and civic leaders to maximize visibility.

🧭 Post-Event Ideas

• Share Your Story: Post photos digitally, with short narratives or captions that humanize the disappeared.

• Follow-Up Actions: Connect with organizers about next steps—petition drives, legislative outreach, legal advocacy, etc.

• Stay in the Network: Sign up for updates on future campaigns to continue engaging with democracy-focused activism.

Disappeared in America is more than a protest—it's a moral demand for recognition, justice, and human dignity. By combining daytime visibility with evening solidarity, it creates a unified, emotional, and media-worthy action.

Whether you’re taking a single photo or standing together under candlelight, your participation affirms that justice isn’t optional—and in America, disappearing people should never be normalized.

👉 Ready to make an impact on June 26?
Head to Mobilize Disappeared in America Visual Action · Mobilize now, RSVP for your nearest action—or create one yourself. Let’s turn up the lights, share the stories, and demand accountability—together.