shut down a section of Alabama interstate.

After a double mastectomy for breast cancer, Paloma Maria had a large Mary tattoo designed between her shoulders.“It’s her who takes care of me. My Rocío Virgin is everything for me,” said the young woman from Cordoba.

Maria Mendoza also came to give thanks when, together with García and her close Triana friends, she walked into the sanctuary Saturday after the brotherhood was formally received in front of it.More pilgrimage events awaited, culminating overnight Sunday into Monday with the final procession of the Rocío icon to visit every brotherhood in town. It’s a massive scrum that lasts hours, after which the faithful make their long return journeys, on foot, horses and carts.But this was the first moment when the women were finally face to face with their Virgin. Tears quickly mixed with sweat and dust on their faces.

“So many thoughts swirling, for you, for your friends … it’s just an explosion,” Sara de la Haza whispered.Then someone in the crowd intoned the Triana’s salute to the Virgin. The friends wiped their eyes and started joyfully singing — “You are the white dove, you are what I’ve loved the most since the day I was born.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s

with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.Ojwang was arrested Friday in Homa Bay in western Kenya and driven 400 kilometers (248 miles) to Nairobi for what police said was publishing “false information” about a top police official on social media.

This blogger’s death comes almost a year after several activists and protesters were killed and abducted by Kenyan police during. Economic frustration remains high, despite the proposed taxes being scrapped last year.

“Our demands are still not met. The joblessness they had last year is tenfold. The killings are still happening,” said Ndungi Githuku, activist from the People’s Liberation Party. “So, nothing was resolved out of the protests that we had. We have freedom that is half baked. This country belongs to the rich, so it is time for the poor to rise. This is what is going to happen (on the anniversary) in a few days.”The Kenyan police said the Independent Policing Oversight Authority has launched an investigation.