SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Just days after a vigil was held for Mario Woods, who was shot by San Francisco police last December, a memorial in his honor was vandalized.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, his supporters braved the weather to repair the damage.
“We were all heartbroken, but here we are today making sure that justice will be served in the city and county of San Francisco when it comes to Mario Woods,” Woods supporter Felicia Jones said.
“It’s a reflection of the hate that’s going on, but I feel like I come out here, they tear it down, let’s build it back up again,” another supporter Saul Bridges added.
A small contingent of supporters cleaned up and decorated the memorial with balloons in the colors that represented Woods.
Fresh flowers were planted in the garden that has stood in the memorial for more than a year.
“They represent life, yes, and Mario Woods will live on in our minds and in our hearts,” Bridges said.
Some felt the vandalism was damaging to the Bayview community itself.
“I just thought it was appalling to hear about how this site was vandalized,” Tim Persyn said. “It was for the community for them to express themselves. I just thought it was awful, so I wanted to come up and make a difference.”
Those who came to resurrect the memorial pledged their steadfast efforts to maintain it.
“You can tear it down, and we will be back out here rain or shine because we believe in justice, and we’re fighting for justice for Mario Woods and we’re going to put it back up,” Jones said.
The family of Woods has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city.