Anniversary of Mayor George Moscone, Supervisor Harvey Milk assassinations
Castro commemorates 45 years since Moscone, Milk assassinations
In a look back at one of San Franciscos darkest days, the Castro commemorated the 45th anniversary of the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, by a fellow supervisor, Dan White, who had resigned from office weeks earlier. There was music and a march Monday night at a vigil in Harvey Milk Plaza.
SAN FRANCISCO - A dark day in history for San Francisco and beyond: 45 years ago, then Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by Dan White, a supervisor who had resigned weeks earlier.
On Monday night, the anniversary, a vigil was held at Harvey Milk Plaza.
The event opened with a musical performance by the same group who sang at the vigil on the night of the assassinations.
The voices of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus rang out in the Castro neighborhood for a vigil commemorating the assassinations of Moscone and Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.
"Every anniversary of the murders, I have marched, all these many years," said Carol Ruth Silver, who served as supervisor alongside her friend Milk.
She said they and Moscone fought for gay rights.
"He and I and Harvey were fighting the police department, which used to stand outside the bathrooms at Golden Gate Park in order to entrap gay men," Silver said.
Dianne Feinstein announces killing of George Moscone, Harvey Milk
Dianne Feinstein broke the news that San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk had been shot and killed by Supervisor Dan White on November 27, 1978. Feinstein was the president of the Board of Supervisors at the time.
Seared into the memories of many was when Diane Feinstein, then the Board of Supervisors president, made the public announcement that the mayor and supervisor had been shot and killed.
November 27, 1978 – the date of the assassinations at City Hall – was seared into the memories of many, especially Cleve Jones who was 24 years old at the time. He worked as an intern for Milk.
"There has not been a day in the last 45 years that I have not thought about him and what happened on this day," said Jones.
He discovered Milk's body.
"It was just horrifying. I had nightmares for years," said Jones.
For many attending this vigil, sadness and anger have been channeled into advocacy and activism to honor Milk whom they described as a visionary.
They paid tribute to his enduring message and legacy: the fight for equality and social justice.
"On that same board when Harvey Milk was elected , the first Chinese American supervisor, Gordon J. Lau, the first African American woman elected to the board, " said Jeffrey Kwong, president of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. "We need to continue to encourage folks, diverse folks, to get involved and be part of the city government."
"Harvey really understood people. He delighted in crossing all of those boundaries that divide us from each other," said Jones.
Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU.