The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Location: Virtual Program
Presenter: Rosemarie Birri D’Alessandro
Twenty years after her daughter was murdered, Rosemarie started a grassroots movement and the community united together to get over one hundred thousand signatures opposing her daughter’s murderer’s parole. Rosemarie saw that laws had to be changed to stop the injustice that her family had to go through. Her efforts led to the passage of five laws on the state and federal level that would help to protect children and give victims more rights. An unimaginable turn of events took place when a man brought her 332 letters that Joan's killer wrote. After he died in 2021, Rosemarie felt free to share all the letters in their entirety, which gives the reader a rare opportunity to see inside the mind of a killer. In this book, The Message of Light amid Letters of Darkness, the letters are included with Rosemarie's summaries and comments, and she tells the parallel story of her life and activism during the time period the letters were written. Her story shows the power of the human spirit as Rosemarie finds a way to make something hopeful out of horrendous tragedy. She perseveres to go for what she believes in despite unexpected obstacles and hardships. She doesn't let hate and animosity take her down, freeing her to go forward and become Joan's voice. Fifty years later, Joan's legacy of hope, justice, and love shines brighter than ever.
The program will take place on Zoom and we will email you the link, meeting ID and password prior to the event.