Annapolis Maryland ~ Rising!
Five people were murdered while they were just doing their job, in the Annapolis Capital-Gazette, newsroom. (Echo opinion published in The Baltimore Sun)
Indeed, Annapolis will support community-based events that bring our people together.
Brighter days are ahead for Annapolis.
Tragically, the gun violence murders on June 28, 2018, causing the deaths of Wendi Winters, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Gerald Fischman and Rebecca Smith, forever changed their families, the survivors of this (gun) massacre, the entire newsroom family, our (Annapolis) city, our state (Maryland), and our nation.
Indeed, the entire world is jarred by this attack, on journalists and on the free press.
This horrible event has impacted me deeply. Never, did I imagine that as mayor, that I would be dealing with the deadliest attack on the press in the history of our country.
What happened at The Capital news has affected all of us in different ways. Many of us knew the victims personally.
Make no mistake, this shooting was an attack on the freedom of the press. And I will not stand by and let people forget Wendi, Rob, Gerald, Rebecca, and John.
At their funerals, many of the family members and reporters asked me, and in fact, said to the world in many different ways, “Please do not forget about them. Don’t let their lives be forgotten.”
My urgency about the timing of this benefit concerts comes from these conversations.
There is no right way or wrong way to grieve. Everyone processes grief and trauma in different ways. It’s never too early or too late to show your support for the families and the survivors.
There has been an outpouring of support from our community and endless requests from businesses on how they can help. These calls started immediately after the shooting and continue until this day.
This horrible event has impacted me deeply. Never, did I imagine that as mayor, that I would be dealing with the deadliest attack on the press in the history of our country.
What happened at The Capital news has affected all of us in different ways. Many of us knew the victims personally.
Make no mistake, this shooting was an attack on the freedom of the press. And I will not stand by and let people forget Wendi, Rob, Gerald, Rebecca, and John.
At their funerals, many of the family members and reporters asked me, and in fact, said to the world in many different ways, “Please do not forget about them. Don’t let their lives be forgotten.”
My urgency about the timing of this benefit concerts comes from these conversations.
There is no right way or wrong way to grieve. Everyone processes grief and trauma in different ways. It’s never too early or too late to show your support for the families and the survivors.
There has been an outpouring of support from our community and endless requests from businesses on how they can help. These calls started immediately after the shooting and continue until this day.
I am extremely proud and lucky to be mayor of Annapolis, such a compassionate city.
One of the calls came from an international recording artist, Good Charlotte – a band that got its start in our town. They offered to headline a charitable concert to help raise money for the family fund. We decided to seize the day and plan a concert that uses music to help the healing process, bring our community together, and show support for journalists and for the first responders.
We wanted to include well-known journalists in the event as well to talk about the importance of freedom of the press. There is a healing power in music and free speech. That is the driving force behind this benefit.
The city should have an opportunity to express its support for the families, the newspaper staff, and protection of freedom of the press.
This is why I felt it was necessary to have this event now – on the one month anniversary of the shooting, while the calls were coming in to offer assistance, and while the news was in our collective consciousness.
Victims of the Annapolis shooting and their families will be honored.....
There's a tradition of holding concerts to bring a healing power through music and to raise money for victims. There was a concert for 9/11 ~ just over a month after the deadliest attack on US soil, with terrorism targeted in New York City, Washington DC and (via the air crash United Airlines 93) in Pennsylvania.
We must also continue to memorialize the courage of journalists.
One of the calls came from an international recording artist, Good Charlotte – a band that got its start in our town. They offered to headline a charitable concert to help raise money for the family fund. We decided to seize the day and plan a concert that uses music to help the healing process, bring our community together, and show support for journalists and for the first responders.
We wanted to include well-known journalists in the event as well to talk about the importance of freedom of the press. There is a healing power in music and free speech. That is the driving force behind this benefit.
The city should have an opportunity to express its support for the families, the newspaper staff, and protection of freedom of the press.
This is why I felt it was necessary to have this event now – on the one month anniversary of the shooting, while the calls were coming in to offer assistance, and while the news was in our collective consciousness.
Victims of the Annapolis shooting and their families will be honored.....
There's a tradition of holding concerts to bring a healing power through music and to raise money for victims. There was a concert for 9/11 ~ just over a month after the deadliest attack on US soil, with terrorism targeted in New York City, Washington DC and (via the air crash United Airlines 93) in Pennsylvania.
We must also continue to memorialize the courage of journalists.
Indeed, Annapolis will support community-based events that bring our people together.
Brighter days are ahead for Annapolis.
Labels: Capital-Gazete, Gerald Fischman, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, Rob Hiaasen, United Airlines Flight 93, Wendi Winters
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 5:06 PM
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