Seattle Council proclaims Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. Day, honors family and calls for continued work on gun-violence prevention

The Seattle City Council on June 23 proclaimed the day in honor of Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr., who was killed on Capitol Hill in June 2020, and invited his family to speak about ongoing community work to support survivors of gun violence.

Council President Joy Hollingsworth opened the meeting by reading the proclamation and asking the clerk to affix signatures; she said the proclamation “is not only honoring his life but also the impact he had since his passing in 2020.” The Council temporarily suspended the rules so members could present the dry copy to the family and take photos.

Donita Sinclair, Anderson’s mother and founder of the Seattle-based support organization We Got Us Moms, thanked the Council and urged continued attention to survivors’ needs. “This is just the beginning, guys. This work has to continue,” Sinclair said, describing the organization’s outreach, healing circles and advocacy for families who have lost loved ones.

Several family members and community supporters addressed the Council after the proclamation. Jessie (identified as Sinclair’s oldest brother) asked the City to continue funding organizations that support grieving families; community member Peter Manning criticized a city official’s absence from the event and said voters would remember that omission.

Council President Hollingsworth closed the recognition by saying the Council would finalize signatures after the meeting and that the proclamation held meaning for the families affected. The Council then transitioned to the hybrid public comment period.

The proclamation does not create a new program or budget line; it is an honorary recognition. No formal legislative action on gun-violence policy occurred during the meeting.