Buxton’s residents and activists are inviting the public to a candlelight vigil tomorrow to stand in solidarity with Linden and condemn the killings and injury suffered during protests in the town last week.
“We… are outraged at the senseless killings of and injury to the people of Linden on July 18, 2012,” a press release from Gerald Willabus, Morris Wilson and David Hinds for Buxtonians in Solidarity with Linden said.
Residents and activists took the decision to stand with Linden at a meeting held on Tuesday night.
The group said Buxton can easily sympathise with “sister-community” Linden as it had been at the receiving end of state violence under the PPP regime. “Buxton identifies with the pain and agony of the Linden community. To watch helplessly as the police mow down your brothers, mothers, sisters, sons, fathers and daughters is a traumatic experience. To have to bury your dead as victims of political aggressions is equally traumatic,” they said, adding that the scars of this action by the government will forever haunt the collective memory and psyche of Linden and Guyana. “How much more of African blood and the blood of the poor have to shed? When will respect for the humanity of our people be respected by those elected to guard our liberties and rights?” it asked.
According to the group, Buxton stands ready to play its part in pressuring the government “to stop murdering innocent and peaceful citizens.”
“We support the demands by Linden for an immediate rescinding of the electricity hike, which is the root cause of this tragedy. A community in which poverty is rife should not be bullied to pay what it cannot afford,” the release said. It added that the residents and activists of Buxton also support calls for murder charges to be instituted against the shooter, the commander and the intellectual authors of the Linden shootings.
Tomorrow’s vigil will start at 6pm at the Buxton Line Top. It will feature interventions by the religious community, drumming, poetry and presentations by political leaders. Persons who plan to attend are asked to walk with candles.
