Tucson Erects Local Memorial in Honor of 2011 Shooting Victims

January marked the sixth anniversary of the 2011 Tucson shooting in which a shooter attempted to assassinate Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The massacre left six dead and 13 others wounded, one of which was Giffords.

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To commemorate the lives lost and as a show of solidarity to the survivors, Tucson is creating a $4.5 million memorial near the Pima County Courthouse, known as the January 8th Memorial. A red steel wall will have carved symbols along it and reflection pools along the walls. Construction is expected to be completed next year.

Congresswoman Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced legislation in the House that would designate the monument as part of the National Park System.

“Six years ago, our community changed forever when 19 people were shot as Representative Giffords met with her constituents,” Congresswoman McSally said in a statement. “This attack on our democracy resulted in six deaths, including the first assassination of a congressional staffer, Gabe Zimmerman, in the line of duty. While the pain and grief for those we lost will always be with us, we also remember how Tucson came together to show courage, compassion, and unity in the face of this tragedy. Our community’s response stood as an example of love for the entire country, and in designating this memorial, we move one step closer to permanently enshrining that spirit and the memory of those killed.”

According to McSally, she expects Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake to introduce similar legislation in the Senate.

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