Today, the Chelsea's Light group celebrates the signing of AB 1884, otherwise known as Chelsea's Law. Put together as a Facebook group last Febuary, after Chelsea King went missing, the take-no-prisoners style of Chelsea's Light made change happen quickly . As a member, I am proud to say: no law in recent memory has been enacted so swiftly and with such non-partisan support. Chelsea's Law is a miracle!
This morning I stopped and purchased sunflowers before making the trek to Balboa Park in San Diego-where the actual signing ceremony was to take place. When I walked up to the Organ Pavilion area, I came upon other members of Chelsea's Light group tying on light blue ribbons to Chelsea's Memorial Tree planted in the park.
I suggested affixing my sunflowers to the tree as well, and a tall gentleman actually was able to pull down the top of the tree and we suceeded in tying on sunflowers to it-much as a Christmas tree would have an ornamental topper. It was beautifully heart-felt.
The Signing Ceremony itself was loaded with self-congratulartory Sacramento politicians but thankfully, they kept their comments short. Governor Schwarsenegger was charming and gracious and made a quip that "very few things bring Republicans and Democrats together, but Chelsea and Amber Dubois (another victim) managed to do just that."
Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who took on the leadership of AB 1884's navigation through the treacherous capitol hurdles in order to get this bill moving forward-received much applause for his efforts.
There is now speculation that Chelsea's Law could be a political career steppingstone for Nathan Fletcher. If this were to be the case, he certainly proved to be a capable and sincere ally and friend to Chelsea's Light.
I think what I most take away from my experiences today and with Chelsea's Light is this: do not let people say that change cannot be effected and why bother?
We are proof of that not being so. A community outraged by the murders of 2 wonderful young women and fed up with the state bureaucratic dysfuncrion that allowed this to occur coalesced into a caring yet ruthlessly organized team that would stop at nothing to make change happen in order to protect our kids.
From charity runs, bake sales, restaurant fund-raisers, school memorial services, community memorial services, the effort sto obtain pettion signatures to get Chelsea's Law up-and-running-and finally to the sad day we all gathered holding sunflowers and irises on the Hall of Justice courthouse stairs when John Gardner (the murderer) was sentenced to life in prison, Chelsea's Light never once went out.
Today, it is bittersweet to finally gather once more and watch the California Governor put his signature on this bill so many worked so hard to make happen. As I glanced up into the drizzly sky when the ceremony was about to begin, I was struck by a audacious hawk that was circling directly above the gathering. As the skies began to part and the sun shone for a moment, I swear I could feel the spirit of beloved Chelsea King soaring over and above us all-happy, free, and proud. She had finally succeeded in "Changing The World."