Candlelight Vigils Honor Crime Victims

Candlelight Vigils Honor Crime Victims: A Heartfelt Remembrance

Each year since 2004, candlelight vigils have paid tribute to those lost to violent crime, providing a
solemn yet united space for remembrance and healing.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin will address those in attendance at each event, joined by keynote speakers who will share their poignant stories of loss, resilience, and seeking justice. The names of victims who died because of violent crime will be read at each venue and candles will be lit to remember them.

Candlelight vigils to honor victims of crime are being held during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

The vigils will be held beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 24.

• Tuesday, April 23, at Palm Desert Civic Center Park, 43-900 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert
• Wednesday, April 24, at Riverside County Historic Courthouse, 4050 Main St., Riverside

Following the Riverside vigil on Wednesday, there will be a special gathering at the nearby District
Attorney’s Office Victims Memorial Courtyard, 3960 Orange St., to unveil new names on the Victims
Memorial Wall.

The public is welcome to attend each of the vigils.

This year’s keynote speakers include:

Palm Desert: Sophia Flores, mother of Manual Hernandez. Sophia will share her story of loss and
resilience. Sophia’s son was killed by her nephew in 2014 following an altercation at a family party. While navigating the criminal justice system and her own path through justice, Sofia’s story expands further as she grapples with how to pick up the pieces in her life.

Riverside: Catherine Barjas, mother of Anthony Michael Barajas, recounts the day that forever changed her life in 2021. What started as a simple outing to the movies in Corona turned into a nightmare when her son was tragically killed while watching a film with a friend. Amidst her profound sorrow, Catherine found herself thrust into a complex criminal justice system, seeking justice for her son.