SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– Citing her strong commitment to fixing city schools and her track record as a law enforcement leader working collaboratively to stop youth violence, Azim Khamisa on Thursday, April 12, endorsed Bonnie Dumanis for Mayor of San Diego. Khamisa founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation after his son was murdered by a gang member in 1995.
“I’ve watched Bonnie Dumanis bring people together and work in innovative ways to break the cycle of youth violence. Through her work as District Attorney and now her vision as a Mayor committed to education reform, Bonnie shares my mission to transform violence prone, at-risk youth into non-violent achieving individuals and create safe and productive schools,” said Khamisa.
Azim Khamisa established the Tariq Khamisa Foundation to honor his 20-year old son. Tariq, who was killed while delivering a pizza. His 14-year old assailant, Tony Hicks, shot Khamisa on orders from a teenage gang leader. After his son’s murder, Azim Khamisa didn’t demand revenge, but instead reached out to Tony Hicks’ grandfather and guardian, who joined Azim in his dedication to end youth violence. Together, they have spoken to thousands of children about the “power of forgiveness” in order to break the cycle of youth violence.
“I’m so honored to have the endorsement of Azim Khamisa. He turned tragedy into triumph and has made a real difference in the lives of San Diegans by working tirelessly in pursuit of a world free from youth violence,” said Dumanis. “I share Azim’s commitment to ensuring that students in San Diego’s schools have a safe environment in which to learn.”
Dumanis has released a bold plan to reform San Diego’s city schools and made headlines last week when she reaffirmed commitment to fix the structural problems facing the San Diego Unified School District in her first term as Mayor.
“San Diego Unified suffers from systemic problems that demand systemic solutions. The problems facing the district go well beyond personalities and individuals. When we see the same kind of issues year after year, as administrators and board members come and go, it points to the need for structural reform,” said Dumanis.
Preceding provided by Bonnie Dumanis’s mayoral campaign