MESA, AZ (AZFamily/AP) — Hundreds of people gathered at an intersection in Mesa, near the group home of 14-year-old Emily Pike, on Thursday evening to honor her life and to press for changes that might help curb the violence that impacts Native American communities.
Emily’s family and close loved ones went inside Encounter AZ Church near McKellips Road and Mesa Drive, while others paid their respects outside and viewed the vigil’s program on a large inflatable projector. Clad in red, they embraced, shielded candle flames on the windy night and held posters that read “No more stolen sisters” and “Justice for Emily Pike.”
“These tears that are shed are a part of a healing process,” said Mary Kim Titla, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Titla was wearing pink — Pike’s favorite color. She said Pike had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian…