Isla Vista slayings: Students march to remember victims

Reporting from Isla Vista, Calif. —  Under clear skies Saturday, dozens of students and area residents quietly walked to the three Isla Vista sites where six UC Santa Barbara students were killed in a deadly rampage about a week ago.

At each site, Allie Clement, program assistant with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, read the names of the dead. The victims’ names were followed by shouts of “Not one more!” -- a mantra Chris Michaels-Martinez’s father has been using to advocate for stricter gun laws.

Authorities say Elliot Rodger fatally stabbed his three roommates in their apartment before taking to the streets May 23 with three semiautomatic handguns. Rodger fatally shot three more victims and injured 13 others during his rampage through the coastal college town.

Rodger then apparently took his own life, authorities said.

Saturday’s march started at I.V. Deli Mart, where 20-year-old Chris Michaels-Martinez was shot and killed. Some curious students stopped to watch the procession.

Some carried signs with the names of the victims or the slogan, “Not One More.”

In front of Rodger’s Capri apartment complex, where victims George Chen, 19, Chen Yuan Hong, 20, and Weihan Wang, 20, were killed, a memorial with flowers, candles and notes continued to grow Saturday.

“George,” Clement said, standing over the memorial.

“Not one more!” the crowd shouted.

“James,” Clement said.

“Not one more!” the crowd repeated.

“David,” Clement said.

“Not one more!” marchers shouted before continuing on to the Alpha Phi house, where Rodger fatally shot Katherine Cooper, 22, and Veronika Weiss, 19, members of the Tri-Delta sorority who had been standing outside.

Lisa Kitson, a 20-year-old UCSB student, said she had been really worked up about the killings and wanted to do something productive about it.

“I want to be part of a community that’s raising awareness about gun violence and misogynistic violence,” Kitson said. “This is not something that should ever happen again.”

The same ritual was repeated here.

“Katherine,” Clement said.

“Not one more!” the crowd shouted.

“Veronika,” Clement said.

“Not one more!” the marchers repeated.

Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, members of the Brady Campaign, were among the participants. Their daughter, Jessica Gahwi, was killed in the Aurora, Colo., theater shooting. Since then, they have been organizing to introduce new federal gun control legislation.

Sandy said that while California’s gun laws are strong, it’s too easy for people in neighboring states to bring over guns and ammunition from neighboring states like Nevada and Arizona.

“We know we’re on the right side of history,” Sandy Phillips said. “We’re saving lives; we’re trying to save lives.”

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