Vigil tonight in Philadelphia for teen found dead in Puerto Rico

A vigil will be held tonight in Philadelphia for Jorge Lopez Mercado, 19, who was found dead on the roadside in his hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico on Nov. 14.

Mercado was found partially burned, decapitated and with arms and legs dismembered, according to Equality Forum, a national and international gay rights group. His death is being described as a hate crime by gay rights groups.

Vigils are being held around the country. The Philadelphia event will be held tonight from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany, 330 South 13th St.

"We must stop the homophobic slaughter," said Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum which promotes civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

Lazin added that since Matthew Shepard's murder in 1998, there have been over 16,000 gay hate crimes which amounts to about 1,450 hate crimes per year related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

Lazin called on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the Mercado case and prosecute it in federal court.

Inquirer Staff