As we come together today, we honor the memory of Angela Carr, A.J. Laguerre Jr. and Jerrald Gallion. Three beautiful people whose lives were taken from us far too soon. Their names, stories, hopes, and dreams are forever etched in our hearts.

They were brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, friends and neighbors—people who deserved only love and respect. We are also here for their families, the survivors and neighbors who are still struggling to recover from this heartbreak.

Like many of you, that tragic day will never leave me. When I received the first text about the shooting, my heart sunk, and I immediately drove over to be with the community. It was important to me that they knew Jacksonville cares about them and that we were with them in this moment of immense grief. Because when something happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.

I felt and feel a personal responsibility that this horrific act of violence happened under my watch in the city we all love. And I remember thinking to myself that we can’t let this be another thing that happens, that we talk about, and then just move on.

In the wake of such tragedy, it is natural to seek answers and try to prevent it from ever happening again. We must confront the ideologies and ideologues that fuel such hatred. We must examine our own communities and our own hearts to understand how we can build a future where such darkness finds no sanctuary in our city.

It would be a failure if we did not start to make good on broken promises and uplift the communities that have suffered so greatly.

It’s completely unacceptable that the zip code we are in has a life span that is 10-15 years lower than other parts of the city. Or an unemployment rate that is higher than 94% of the country. We owe it to our disinvested communities to make investments in health, economic opportunities, infrastructure, housing, and homelessness. It’s how we build a city that affords opportunities for all our citizens.

Over the past year, we've seen both incredible acts of solidarity and moments of painful division. The strength of our response reflects the best of who we are — a community that refuses to be defined by hatred. We have worked to support the families affected, to offer them compassion, and to ensure that their voices are heard. We have come together to advocate for change, to push for policies that address hate and violence, and to educate ourselves and others about the dangers of racism and bigotry.
Yet even as we reflect on our progress, we must acknowledge that there is much more work to be done. The issues that led to that day of horror are deeply rooted – and addressing them requires an ongoing commitment from each one of us.

We must challenge ourselves and each other to confront prejudice in our everyday lives, to speak out against injustice, and to build bridges of understanding across our communities.

That means seeing the full humanity of our neighbors. To find love for our fellow human beings. This is a solemn responsibility that we have to each other, to our children, and to our grandchildren.

It is not enough to remember Angela, A.J. and Jerrald only in moments of reflection. We must honor them through our actions. We must strive to create a society where diversity is celebrated and where every individual feels that they belong. We must expand the work that is harnessing our city’s diversity, not undermine the people or programs that nurture it. We also must work towards a future where everyone feels safe and supported, no matter who they are, who they love, or where they worship.

As we memorialize this somber day, let us remember that our collective strength lies in our unity. Let us be inspired by the resilience and courage of those who continue to fight for justice and equality.

Let us renew our commitment to a world where such acts of violence and hatred are nothing but distant memories. Let us honor the memory of the victims by remembering them today and dedicating ourselves to a world where love and unity prevail. It’s our only path forward.