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by Sierra Bourne, SF Bay View
On the evening of Tuesday, April 5, individuals from all over San Francisco gathered together at the United Playaz headquarters on 1308 Howard Street in SOMA. Religious leaders, local elected officials and droves of other community members, non-profit organizations and their representatives congregated at the entrance of the building. But this event was far from celebratory – it was, in fact, very solemn.
United Playaz, alongside San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, organized a candlelight vigil and call to action to end gun violence. This event was quickly assembled in light of several deadly shootings that occured in the Bayview and Crocker Amazon neighborhoods this past weekend – one of which broke out in a playground – along with the mass shooting in downtown Sacramento, Calif., in which six individuals were killed and at least a dozen others injured.
Multiple key speakers turned out to show their support and give condolences publicly to the family members of gun violence victims both past and present, some of whom were also present at the rally and pleaded tearfully for an end to the murderous cycle.
President of the Board of Supervisors Shamann Walton took to the podium and decried the disparity in urgency and press coverage of when violent gun-related crime happens to people, versus the reactions when retail businesses are affected.
“We have to stop caring about retail theft more than people’s lives,” Walton stated. He went on to call out those in the city who “want to protect clothes and property more than they want to protect people’s lives.”
“Stop protecting Union Square and places where retail theft happens before you protect the places where people are getting killed on the streets,” came the board president’s declaration, a widely shared sentiment followed by much cheering and applause from the crowd. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and District Attorney Chesa Boudin also took the stand, equally as adamant about the fight to cease gun violence in the streets.
“I’m here to say, as your city attorney, we will continue the fight, because we can’t stop until our mothers stop grieving,” said Chiu in his speech before the crowd. Boudin went on to call for “accountability for those who have caused harm” and “concrete action to prevent further harm,” expressing that it is not enough to merely express grievances and condolences for the lost lives, but to ensure these violent acts no longer take place in the future.
Numerous heartfelt anecdotes and memories of deceased loved ones were shared by their friends and family who spoke at the rally, including those of the father of Jace Young, the little boy who was tragically shot and killed on the fourth of July 2020 at just six years old as he sat and watched fireworks – right here in the Bayview.
Community leader and activist Uncle Damien Posey of Us4Us also took to the stand, telling of his prior history of incarceration and felonies and how, upon his release from prison, he came to realize the promises of a life on the streets were fabricated and hollow.
“The game is a lie. The streets are a lie. Ghost guns are a lie.” Posey urged members of the community: “If you’re really tired – start showing up! Don’t wait until something happens to you to start getting involved. We are in a battle for our city.”
Mattie Scott of the Brady United Against Gun Violence campaign rose to the podium to amplify awareness for Assembly Bill 1612, legislation that would ban the assembly kits necessary to build the infamous ghost guns behind much of the latest string of violent crime, as well as their possession.
The ceremony concluded with a group prayer and calling out the names of those who lost their lives in remembrance, led by Fr. Richard Smith of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church.
Sierra Bourne is SF Bay View’s community journalist and social media team member born and raised in Bayview Hunters Point. Her reporting covers issues affecting youth in SFUSD schools and all over the City. Reach Sierra by email at sierra@sfbayviewnews.wpenginepowered.com.
