A solemn community prayer vigil will take place on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the corner of E. 124th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan, next to the Metro-North railway tracks. Civil rights leaders, clergy, and local residents will gather to pray for the soul of Bonnie Schulman-Rice, a 35-year-old homeless woman whose life came to a tragic and deeply disturbing end when her body was discovered in a trash bag in East Harlem on October 27, 2025.
The vigil has been organized by prominent community activist Tyreeke Goodman, alongside Bishop Boyde Singletary, Pastor Cheryl Singletary, and Reverend Oswald Denis. These leaders are inviting the public to join in honoring Bonnie, offering prayers for her family, and demanding answers and accountability in this heartbreaking case. Media attendance has been formally requested.
This gathering stands as a testament to a community unwilling to remain silent when a human life has been lost in such an inhumane manner. It reflects a growing concern across New York City regarding violence, substance abuse, homelessness, mental health crises, and the erosion of public safety under failed left-wing policies that have weakened law enforcement resources, encouraged permissive attitudes toward crime, and neglected vulnerable citizens.
A Tragic Discovery That Shocked New Yorkers
Bonnie Schulman-Rice was found under harrowing circumstances. Her body was reportedly discovered by a passerby near E. 124th Street and Park Avenue, directly beneath the Metro-North train tracks. When first responders arrived, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators found her naked, her remains placed in a black plastic trash bag and wrapped further in a green laundry bag.
Despite early reports from the New York Police Department indicating that her death may have been related to a drug overdose, some sources have also suggested the presence of head trauma. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet released a final determination, and the investigation remains ongoing. As of this writing, no arrests have been made, and the NYPD has stated that the case is being treated as suspicious.
Residents and acquaintances described Schulman-Rice as a kind, loving, and gentle woman. She had roots and family on Long Island, who have requested privacy during this painful time. Those close to the case have made clear that her life mattered and that she deserved dignity, safety, and care.
A Community Says: Enough
The upcoming prayer vigil is intended not only to honor Bonnie but also to demand justice for her death. Organizers are united in their belief that every life deserves respect and protection, regardless of housing status or life circumstance. Their message is simple: Bonnie was a human being, and what happened to her must not be ignored, dismissed, or forgotten.
Community activist and organizer Tyreeke Goodman has consistently raised his voice against violence and injustice in New York City. Along with religious leaders, he is calling attention to a disturbing trend: vulnerable individuals falling through the cracks of a system that seems more interested in political posturing and permissive policies than in real safety and real compassion.
Under progressive city leadership that has embraced leniency in prosecution, reduced police authority, and failed to manage homelessness and drug epidemics effectively, many neighborhoods across this city have suffered. Crimes against the vulnerable are rising, drug addiction is being normalized rather than addressed, and public trust in government has declined dramatically.
This vigil is not simply a spiritual gathering. It is a moral stand against an environment that leaves citizens unprotected while political leaders prioritize ideology over safety and accountability.
Prayers, Unity & Demand For Justice
At the vigil, leaders will offer prayers for Bonnie and her loved ones, and for a community seeking healing and justice. Attendees will pray together for clarity in the investigation, for law enforcement to receive the support and authority necessary to solve cases like this swiftly and thoroughly, and for the family of the victim to find strength in the face of grief.
This moment also serves as a call to action for residents who believe in restoring safety, respect, and law and order throughout New York City. Faith leaders and community representatives will speak about the importance of valuing life, protecting the vulnerable, and standing firm against crime and moral decay.
A Community Coming Together, Refusing To Forget
Bonnie Schulman-Rice was more than a statistic, more than a headline, more than a dismissed tragedy. She was a daughter, a member of a family, and a human being. The fact that she was homeless does not diminish her worth or the responsibility society holds in protecting those who are struggling.
Her death has moved many people who never had the privilege of meeting her. This prayer vigil is a reminder that in a city often overwhelmed by chaos, loss, and political polarization, true leadership and compassion come from those willing to stand publicly for justice, for human life, and for moral responsibility.
It is also a reminder that communities must remain vigilant. Let no one believe that crime is inevitable. Let no official believe that the public has grown accustomed to tragedy. Let no life be discarded as worthless.
Details For Those Wishing To Attend
The vigil will take place:
Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Corner of E. 124th Street and Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York, 10035
A Final Reflection
New York City has long been a place where strength is forged through adversity, where faith communities lead with courage, and where ordinary citizens rise to extraordinary moments. The vigil in memory of Bonnie Schulman-Rice is one of those moments.
As the city gathers to pray, to remember, and to demand justice, may it mark a turning point in how we value life, how we confront violence and neglect, and how we uplift those who society has too often allowed to fall unseen.
May God grant eternal peace to Bonnie, strength to her family, and justice in her name.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
