Parents Of Murdered Children Organization

Relatives of Southern California murder victims gathered in Westwood on Tuesday to support a constitutional amendment that would guarantee certain rights for crime victims. At a morning news conference, local chapters of Parents of Murdered Children endorsed the Victims Rights Amendment, a bill proposed by U.S. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.

Relatives of Southern California murder victims gathered in Westwood on Tuesday to support a constitutional amendment that would guarantee certain rights for crime victims. At a morning news conference, local chapters of Parents of Murdered Children endorsed the Victims Rights Amendment, a bill proposed by U.S. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.

In a voice choked with sadness and rage, George Escalera described how his 19-year-old son, Steven, was shot and killed during a traffic altercation with another motorist. Gripping a tissue moist with tears, the 60-year-old Anaheim man told a group of parents: "I can't get over it. It happened Dec. 13, 1991." His voiced trailed off into an anguished whisper: "Yes, I want revenge. My son did nothing to him." About 20 parents nodded and wept in grim understanding.

In a voice choked with sadness and rage, George Escalera described how his 19-year-old son, Steven, was shot and killed during a traffic altercation with another motorist. Gripping a tissue moist with tears, the 60-year-old Anaheim man told a group of parents: "I can't get over it. It happened Dec. 13, 1991." His voiced trailed off into an anguished whisper: "Yes, I want revenge. My son did nothing to him." About 20 parents nodded and wept in grim understanding.

Some people instinctively know how to comfort friends grieving for a lost loved one, but most of us aren't sure what to say or do. We worry that we'll only add to the pain if we don't respond in just the right way, so we send flowers and a note and hope our friends will be surrounded by others who can help. Once our friends have resumed their normal routines and seem to have put their grief behind them, we reappear and act as if nothing had happened.

It's been nearly seven months since 9-year-old Autumn Wallace was murdered, and most of those who were close to her have buried their pain and moved on with their lives. But not her mother, Linda Wallace. Although she has returned to work and usually tells people she's fine when they ask, her grief is still intense. She still needs to talk about Autumn, to share the good memories that she hopes will someday stop her from dwelling on her daughter's violent death.

Some people instinctively know how to comfort friends grieving for a lost loved one, but most of us aren't sure what to say or do. We worry that we'll only add to the pain if we don't respond in just the right way, so we send flowers and a note and hope our friends will be surrounded by others who can help. Once our friends have resumed their normal routines and seem to have put their grief behind them, we reappear and act as if nothing had happened.

It's been nearly seven months since 9-year-old Autumn Wallace was murdered, and most of those who were close to her have buried their pain and moved on with their lives. But not her mother, Linda Wallace. Although she has returned to work and usually tells people she's fine when they ask, her grief is still intense. She still needs to talk about Autumn, to share the good memories that she hopes will someday stop her from dwelling on her daughter's violent death.