A small group of people in Times Square braved the cold weather Thursday night to honor the life of Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, an 11-year-old girl from Gainseville, Texas, who died by suicide on Feb. 8. Her mother, Marabella Carranza, believes Jocelyn’s death was the result of bullying at school over her family’s immigration status, noting that Jocelyn said some students had threatened to report her parents to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
Joceylyn’s mother and her father, Ernesto Alonso Rojo, are both from Mexico and migrated to North Texas years earlier. Jocelynn was born in the United States. Speaking to NBC-Dallas, Rojo said he remembered Jocelyn as being a joyful and loving child. “Jocelynn don’t tell me nothing about somebody bullying her, never tell me, never tell me nothing like that,” he said to NBCDFW. “Whenever I see her, she jumping on me, giving me some hugs and kiss. I miss you, Daddy. I love you so much.”
Speakers at the candlelight vigil said the night was meant to honor Jocelynn, and also bring awareness to the anti-immigrant rhetoric pervading the country. Following the 11-year-old’s death, Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro condemned the dehumanizing rhetoric surrounding immigrants and specifically held President Donald Trump accountable. “Trump has created a culture of cruelty and meanness that is infecting American society and our kids. My staff and I are reaching out to San Antonio schools to ask them how they’re protecting students against bullying in this hostile environment,” he told independent journalist Jim Acosta.
Janet Gutierrez from Queens attended Thursday’s vigil after saying she felt a lot of fear, both for herself and others. But when she heard the news about Jocelynn, she immediately wanted to take action. “I felt really sad when I heard about the young immigrant girl who passed away,” she said. “I felt that girl could have been my daughter. She could have been anyone’s daughter. I felt like it was really important to come out here and speak about it.”
Another attendee, Justin Guaman from Queens, said he works with at-risk kids and the news of Jocelynn’s death “broke” his heart. “I hope that people will see that this is very important,” he said. “A person lost their life, and I want people to see that it’s not okay for us to be apathetic towards this injustice, particularly anti-immigrant rhetoric and bullying culture. I just want folks to see that this is not okay. This type of culture is not okay.”
Photography by Corrie Aune.
