The C.L.A.E.R. Project Responds to Sunnydale's First Murder in 2009

The C.L.A.E.R. Project
1099 Sunnydale Ave.
San Francisco, CA
415.333.3017

Media Release 4/15/09

Interview Requests:
*Sharen Hewitt, Executive Director 415-724-4794

Contacts:
*Lacrecia Gardner 415-595-1446
*Laurel Moeslein 707-696-7951


On April 13, 2009 the Sunnydale community experienced their first murder of the year. 16-year-old Mark Crawford, a former Sunnydale resident, was shot and killed at 10:15 p.m. Today would have been his 17th birthday.

Where is the outrage over this senseless killing? Who is still shocked by the blood running in our streets? We speak about the preciousness of our children, but to date this murder of a child has gone virtually unnoticed. The San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune, San Francisco Bay Guardian, and San Francisco Examiner all failed to place this young man’s tragic death in their newspapers.

In the face of this heartbreaking and hideous event, we must ask WHEN WILL WASHINGTON MAKE THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ASSUALT WEAPONS BAN A PRIORITY? There is nothing that can offer protection from an assault weapon. Just ask the families of the slain police officers in Oakland. Or the residents of Sunnydale. Fourteen people have lost their lives this year in the city of San Francisco. 10 of those 14 victims died at the hands of an assault weapon.

Those of us who live and work in high crime neighborhoods are begging for protection against assault weapons. We pray that Senators Feinstein and Boxer will hear our cries, and introduce legislation making the sale and possession of these firearms illegal.