Arizonans Mark Anniversary of Giffords Shooting
- By
Ambreen Ali
- Roll Call Staff
- Jan. 8, 2012, 11:33 a.m.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo
A vigil is held on the West Front of the Capitol after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in her home district in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 8, 2011.
Updated: 12:23 p.m.
Shortly after noon today, thousands of people plan to ring bells to honor the victims of last year’s shooting rampage at a Congressional meet-and-greet in Tucson, Ariz., where a gunman killed six and injured 13, including a Member of Congress.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) is still recovering from the bullet injury in her brain, but she plans to participate in a vigil at the University of Arizona this evening with her husband, Mark Kelly. Giffords also visited a trailhead in Arizona that has been renamed to honor her slain staff member Gabe Zimmerman.
On Saturday, she returned to the Safeway where she was meeting with constituents when the shooting occurred.
“Congresswoman Giffords wanted to be back in Tucson for this very emotional weekend,” Pia Carusone, Giffords’ chief of staff, said in a statement.
Giffords’ staff members plan to attend other events around her district today, including interfaith services and gatherings to encourage civic participation.
“In those difficult hours, Americans reminded the world that no act of violence would silence the dialogue of democracy,” Rep. Nan Hayworth (N.Y.) said in this week’s Republican radio address.
“A community was shaken, but its will and spirit did not fail; indeed, Tucson responded with unity, with compassion, with a spirit of strength and civility that echoed across the country,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement.
Roll Call’s coverage of last year’s Arizona shootings:
