The recent spike in violence among Mission youth over the past two months has compelled community members to unite in hopes of promoting a safe, peaceful neighborhood environment.

Despite a 50 percent decrease in homicides over the past three years in San Francisco, incidents of violence and murder remain unchanged in several of the city’s “hot zones,” defined by the SFPD.

The recent gang-related shootings in our community serve as a deadly reminder that the Mission remains a killing field for some of our misguided youth.