Click here to watch the video of the prayer vigil.
Video by Terry Dean
Members of the LEADERs network of West Side pastors hosted a prayer vigil Friday afternoon for Yasmine Acree, who’s been missing since Tuesday, Jan. 15. She was last seen at her home near Congress and Cicero.
The family, including her cousin, Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church, and her mother, Rose Starnes, hosted the vigil at Yasmine’s school, The Austin Polytech Academy, 231 N. Pine. Students and friends of the 15-year-old missing teen attended the vigil, as did members of the anti-violence group CeaseFire.
The pastors used the occasion to talk to students about how to protect themselves from abduction. Yasmine’s family believe she was abducted from their Austin home. Tio Hardiman, director of CeaseFire’s gang mediation, also advised students on how to settle their conflicts with peers peacefully. The vigil ended with a prayer and chant, “Let’s find Yasmine!”
Additional coverage of the search for Yasmine Acree in next week’s Austin Weekly News
