Police Alert For Revenge Attacks After Murders (Press, 30 November 1978)

On 30 November 1978, San Francisco held a large open-air memorial ceremony to honour Mayor George Moscone and civic leader Harvey Milk, who were both tragically murdered. This event occurred on the same day that Dan White, the man accused of their killings, was set to appear in court for arraignment. The city was on high alert due to fears of potential violence, following a wave of grief and sympathy for the victims. The murders of Moscone and Milk came in the wake of a national tragedy, where 900 followers of the People’s Temple religious cult, led by Jim Jones, died in a mass suicide in Guyana 12 days earlier. Many of the deceased were from the San Francisco area, contributing to the city's sense of shock and mourning. Although Jones had previously been politically aligned with Moscone, police indicated that there was no direct link between the mass killing and the murders of Moscone and Milk. The memorial service was expected to gather thousands of citizens in a public square to pay their respects. Dan White, who was 32 years old, faced serious charges for the murders. If convicted, he could potentially be sentenced to death, as recent legislation extending the death penalty to crimes against elected officials was just approved by voters three weeks prior. The specifics of the violence were stark; Moscone was shot four times, while Milk was shot five times. Prior to the shootings, White had demanded his position back on the Board of Supervisors, having resigned from his post only two weeks earlier. Mayor Moscone was scheduled to announce White’s successor shortly after his murder, illustrating the tense and unstable situation surrounding the local government. Amidst this turmoil, it was reported that White was to receive an award from the Fire Department for his bravery in rescuing a mother and child from a burning building. Despite the tragic circumstances leading to the memorial, fire officials announced that the award would still be officially recognised, albeit with a postponed presentation ceremony. The events of that day marked a dark chapter in San Francisco's history, highlighting the intense emotional impact of the losses of both Moscone and Milk on the community, alongside the unsettling realities of political violence and civic responsibility.

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