BACKGROUND:

At Los Angeles’ First Annual Day of Remembrance in Downtown Los Angeles, participants will join communities around the nation in honoring slain loved ones and fallen members of law enforcement (Friday marks the third National Day of Remembrance). For Californians it has been nearly a year since voters passed Marsy’s Law, a Constitutional Amendment that is the nation’s most comprehensive Victims’ Bill of Rights. Today, families and friends continue the fight for victims’ rights by uniting in solidarity. The rally is organized by Justice for Murdered Children (JFMC) founder LaWanda Hawkins in association with all Southern California Crime Victims’ organizations. Hawkins founded JFMC in 1996 after her only child, Reggie, was murdered.

EVENT:

11 a.m. Media interviews with LaWanda Hawkins and other Victims’ Rights leaders and event speakers.

11:30 a.m. Families carrying photos of slain loved ones will march across the Plaza courtyard. Booths of Victims’ Rights organizations that provide support, guidance and counseling for homicide survivors will be in the courtyard.

12 p.m. Speakers at the ceremony include:

• California Attorney General Jerry Brown

• Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca

• Former U.S. Director of Office for Victims of Crime John Gillis

• Marsy’s Law co-author and Broadcom Corporation founder, Dr. Henry T. Nicholas, III

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