BIDDEFORD — It was raining in Mechanics Park on Friday afternoon, but that didn’t stop Caitlin Murphy from setting up her tent and inviting protesters and passersby to stop and make a quilt square. 

The quilt — already filled with bright colors, floral designs and “Bluey” characters — is for Dulce, the young daughter of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Biddeford last month. 

Guerrero’s killing sent waves of anger and fear throughout the Biddeford community, and many residents, including Murphy, began looking for ways to act.

A lot of the time, that looks like protests and vigils. Murphy attended both on the day Guerrero was killed but soon realized that she wanted to do more.

That’s when she decided to create a quilt for Dulce and involve the community to do it.

“I thought having a positive, constructive way to focus community would be nice,” she said. 

Murphy said she felt fed up by years of violence from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. And as a mother to two young children, she was especially horrified to learn that Guerrero’s 3-year-old daughter, still dressed in her “Bluey” pajamas, witnessed the shooting.

“I have a 3-year-old who loves his Bluey pajamas,” Murphy said. “This one was close to home.” 

Each Friday afternoon since then, Murphy has set up her tent and quilting supplies in Mechanics Park and encouraged protesters to create a square. No one has to be an expert quilter to participate (Murphy herself only has experience embroidering).

Murphy encourages floral designs, hearts to represent love, bees to represent community and butterflies to represent perseverance in the face of adversity. Her only rule for those who want to add to the quilt is that they create something positive.

One square reads, “Love is hope.” Another says, “Maine loves immigrants.” A third reads, “We all care,” within a heart.

For Murphy, it’s not about making the perfect quilt or creating the best design. It’s about doing something accessible and creative to protest Guerrero’s death and to give back to his family.

“A lot of people aren’t comfortable standing on the street with a sign,” she said. “Doing this gives the introverts something to do.”

Many Biddeford residents have continued to rally in Mechanics Park on Fridays — and to help with the quilt.

It’s been a positive experience, Murphy said, with more people making quilt squares than she expected.

So far, about 50 squares have been added, with more coming in through the mail. Murphy hopes to make a second quilt for Guerrero’s wife, Karolina Alvarez.

“It’s been really nice,” she said. “People are here as much as they can be.”

Murphy hasn’t set a deadline for completing the quilt. She’ll show up every Friday for as long as it takes.

She doesn’t know Guerrero’s family, and she’s never met Dulce, but taking the time to do something kind for a young girl who lost her father is important to her.

When the quilt is finished, Murphy plans to take it to McArthur Library, whose workers will then give it to Dulce.

“I don’t think anything can brighten her life right now,” Murphy said. “But I don’t want her to think the community isn’t with her.”