San francisco
GUN VIOLENCE MEMORIAL

The Gun Violence Memorial is coming to Sue Bierman Park, across from the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco, to remember victims of gun violence and inspire the #CourageToAct. These vases of white flowers honor the 3,449 Californians who died from gun violence in 2020.

Open to the public May 2–6, 2022.

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GUN homicides ROSE 41% IN CALIFORNIA in 2020

3,449 people in California were killed with guns in 2020, some of the 45,000 lives lost to rising gun violence nationwide. To honor this preventable loss of life, we’ve installed vases of white flowers in San Francisco.

The Gun Violence Memorial is open for public viewing. We encourage you to visit, reflect, and urge your elected officials to take action.

Sue Bierman Park
Across from the Ferry Building
San Francisco
May 2–6, 2022

CANDELIGHT VIGIL

Join us in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, May 3 to commemorate lives lost to gun violence. By gathering together we aim to remember, reflect, and resolve to continue our collective efforts to save lives.

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A PLACE TO REMEMBER & REFLECT

We’re visiting San Francisco to commemorate victims of gun violence and inspire the #CouragetoAct.

In April 2021, Giffords installed a memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC with 40,000 flowers representing the number of Americans who die from gun violence each year. Tragically, new data indicates that number rose to 45,000 in 2020.

Since then, we’ve taken the Gun Violence Memorial on the road—our next stop is San Francisco. No state or community in the United States is safe from preventable shootings—nearly every American will know a victim of gun violence at some point in their lifetime. This memorial will visualize that reality in a bold and unique way that refuses to be overlooked or ignored.

Giffords will host press events and leadership will meet with community partners, local officials, and activists. Residents will have the opportunity to visit the memorial, dedicate a flower, and learn more about the fight to end gun violence.

PLEDGE TO FIGHT GUN VIOLENCE

Stand with Gabby Giffords and join our efforts to make our country safer from gun violence. It takes all of us to fight fear and despair with courage and action.

A PLACE TO INSPIRE ACTION

We can save lives from gun violence, but only if we have leaders with the courage to act.

State

California

Overall, California has the strongest gun safety laws in the nation and has been a trailblazer for gun safety reform for the past 30 years.

Gun Law Scorecard Grade: A

Gun violence impacts every community in California in tragic and preventable ways. While state leaders have taken bold action to save lives from gun violence, making the state a national model for many gun safety policies and programs, Congress continues to ignore the violence that affects people every day from San Diego to Sacramento and across this nation. However, there are steps that can be taken in Washington. California’s senators support lifesaving legislation like universal background checks, but Senate Republicans continue to impede efforts to strengthen our gun safety laws.

CDC data from 2020 indicates a clear trend: gun violence is on the rise. An estimated 3,449 Californians lost their lives to gun violence that year. That’s an 18% increase over the previous year.

GUN VIOLENCE MEMORIAL PARTNERS

Thank you to our dedicated partners for joining us in honoring the 3,449 Californians who lost their lives to gun violence in 2020. We admire the lifesaving work you do day in, day out.

San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium

Since 1982 the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium and its members have dedicated themselves to eliminating domestic violence and ensuring the basic rights of safety, self-determination, and well-being to victims and survivors of domestic violence and their children. The alliance between the Consortium, its members and the community at-large is a model for coordinating public policy, funding, and training with domestic violence service providers in San Francisco, thus bringing together the diverse resources of San Francisco in response to this complex issue.
SFDVC.org

The san francisco Wraparound project

The Wraparound Project is a hospital-based violence intervention program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. The program’s mission is to reduce re-injury for victims of violent crime in our community. The program is grounded in the philosophy that violence is a public health issue and that addressing root causes of violence can prevent future injury for our clients. We recognize that hospitalization for traumatic injury is a time when patients are more open to change. Wraparound’s Violence Prevention Professionals provide crucial tailored intensive case management, mentorship, and connection between the hospital and San Francisco community-based resources that help support this collaborative and transformative change.
wraparound.ucsf.edu

YOUTH ALIVE

For 30 years, Youth ALIVE! has been Oakland’s homegrown, anchor violence prevention agency. Our mission is to prevent violence and develop youth leaders. Youth ALIVE! trains youth to be peer educators and leaders in the quest for peace (Teens on Target). We guide the violently wounded to safety and back to school or work (Caught in the Crossfire). We support young people moving out of the justice system and into the community (Pathways). We mediate violent conflicts between individuals or groups (Violence Interruption). When a homicide occurs, we step into the lives of grieving, frightened survivors to provide assistance on the path to healing (Khadafy Washington Project). We provide mental health therapy to our traumatized community (Counseling Services). With our clients, we advocate relentlessly for policies that promote safety and address the root causes of violence (Advocacy for Change).
youthalive.org

SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION and Park department

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages. Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.
sfrecpark.org

Thank you to our San Francisco-based Giffords Impact Network corporate partner for standing with us in the gun safety movement here and across the country.

SPOTLIGHT

GABBY’S STORY
OF COURAGE

In 2011, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head while meeting with constituents in Tucson, Arizona. In the face of adversity and opposition, she’s inspired millions to fight for a safer America, one free from gun violence.

Stories