Halloween in the Castro

I just learned of all the shootings in the Castro last night 4 blocks from my house in a neighborhood that is ususally nice and quiet.  I had to quickly change my fun, light-hearted post to one of outrage!

It is time to stop this event from invading our neighborhood.  The sad part is that our city leaders knew this would eventually happen.

You can read the story here.  My original post is after the jump.

My buddy Biron, a local photographer here in San Francisco sent me a link to his pics of the event last night.  I picked out some shirtless shots for my blog but you can see the whole collection on his site.  The rest of the pics are after the jump.

Comments

[David]

I hope Nathan and Jeff are glad you kept them home last night, considering the nine shooting victims from last night's violence in the Castro.

[jared]

Oh my god!!! I had no idea. We were in Jeff's bedroom in the back of the house and didn't even hear the crowd outside.

[Mark]

I read about this on Yahoo this morning. I'm a straight guy(a little bi-curious) and this sounds like it was a gay bashing incident. I don't mean to sound dumb but is this true. Have you heard anything to this? Has anyone been caught?

[David]

I'm glad you and nathan and jeff are ok. I'm outraged by this.

[biron]

Where there is revelry there is always the possibility of mayhem only preventable by fascist decisions that would ban all public revelry. The day this occurs will be a sad one indeed.

[Chad]

I was there last night, hanging out in front of my friend's apartment (he lives over the Sausage Factory) and I don't think I'm going to come back next year. This was the first time I went to the Castro for Halloween since, oh, 1998.

Never again.

[Vincent]

My dear bud John and his partner also live in the Castro, they visited with us here in Ireland last month and we talked about this event. John mentioned the potential for violence and the fact that last year there were similar incidents. As a result his partner doesn't go out to enjoy the fun and John was in two minds about it. I haven't heard anything from them but trust they are ok and am glad that you guys are ok too, if a little disheartened about what has happened. It is a real shame that this is what can happen on your doorstep, that a time of fun and celebration can become one of fear about the very district..place you live in.

Cheerio for now...Vincent..x

[Rob]

OMG, Jared. . .your post was the first I'd heard about it. I'm tearful right now for those whose lives were lost AND for the fact that you three are safe.

[sue]

I read about it early this morning and was really glad that you guys decided to stay in last nite. I am glad that you guys are safe. I hope they find the assholes who did the shooting.