Bringing voice to victims and demanding safer streets at World Day of Remembrance
Standing in solidarity at this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
I’m not sure how Hannah Ege did it.
Less than a year after her husband Sheria Musyoka was hit and killed by a speeding driver, Hannah spoke at World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 21.
One of the reasons Hannah spoke is because it’s what Sheria would have wanted.
Sheria had told her once that if he were to die, “I just want my death to be impactful and I want it to be a movement. I want my name to be CHANGE.”
So Hannah spoke. To tell the story of her soulmate’s life – and to demand much more is done to prevent crashes like the one that robbed her son Theo of his father.
Many others stood with Hannah to remember those taken too soon and those who were severely injured. I’m grateful to Joe Martinez for speaking about the loss of his son Paul, to Elizabeth Colomello for talking about the crash that could easily have killed her, and to Julie Mitchell for sharing a reading that helped her in the throes of grief after losing her son Dylan.
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- Reverend Portia Osborne led everyone in song. Photo by William McLeod
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- The memorial at World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims included a tribute to Wilma Chan, a beloved Bay Area advocate for children, families, immigrants, and the elderly. Photo by William McLeod
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- Photo by William McLeod
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- State Senator Scott Wiener. Photo by William McLeod
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- Remembering those lost too soon. Photo by William McLeod
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- SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin and SFMTA Director of Streets Division Tom Maguire stand with victims. Photo by William McLeod
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- A beautiful tribute to Kyle LaBlanc. Photo by William McLeod
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- Supervisor Matt Haney. Photo by William McLeod
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- Supervisor Myrna Melgar. Photo by William McLeod
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- Julie Mitchell, a founding member of San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets, shared a reading that helped her in the throes of grief in losing her son. Photo by William McLeod
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- Joe Martinez spoke about his beloved son Paul. Photo by William McLeod
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- Hannah Ege’s husband Sheria Musyoka was hit and killed by a speeding driver in February 2021. Photo by William McLeod
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- Hannah Ege asked everyone to take a breath together. Photo by William McLeod
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- Families for Safe Streets is a community of people who have been directly impacted by a traffic crash. Photo by William McLeod
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- World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a global event. This was the seventh time this event has been held in San Francisco. Photo by William McLeod
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- Around 30 people are killed in traffic crashes each year in San Francisco. More than 500 are severely injured. Photo by William McLeod
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- The event is a chance to honor the victims and also demand changes to make our streets safer. Photo by William McLeod
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- Elizabeth Colomello spoke of the crash that nearly ended her life. Photo by William McLeod
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- Supervisor Dean Preston. Photo by William McLeod
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- City Attorney David Chiu. Photo by William McLeod
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- Reverend Portia Osborne. Photo by William McLeod
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- Supervisor Catherine Stefani. Photo by William McLeod
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- Remembering paraeducator Andrew Zieman. Photo by William McLeod
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- Loved ones of Andrew Zieman attended. Andrew was hit and killed on November 10, 2021. Photo by William McLeod
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- Photo by William McLeod
The San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets community continues to bring voice to their pain and channel grief into action. They are incredible. I’m thankful to support their advocacy in my role at Walk San Francisco.
I’m also thankful to the many city leaders who stood with us at World Day of Remembrance. This includes State Senator Scott Wiener, City Attorney David Chiu, District Supervisor Catherine Stefani, District Supervisor Dean Preston, District Supervisor Matt Haney, District Supervisor Myrna Melgar, and Jeff Tumlin, Director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Read more in SFBay about commitments these leaders made at the event.
We will hold them to these promises. Like Sheria wanted, together we are building a movement to realize life-saving changes on our streets.
Are you someone who’s been directly impacted by a traffic crash? Don’t hesitate to reach out anytime to aly@walksf.org. Learn more about San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets.
Photos by William McLeod, copyright Walk San Francisco 2021
