4 years after San Bernardino terror attack, community shows strength

Monday marked 4 years since the San Bernardino terror attack when 14 people were killed in a mass shooting.

Since then, the community has shown its resilience and strength, building a memorial a few blocks from where the 14 lives were claimed.

Five of those victims were alumni of California State University San Bernardino, where a memorial bell rang 14 times Wednesday afternoon in honor of the lives lost.

"This day is hard but it's not just this day — it's all through the year," said Marie Velasco, who lost her daughter Yvette in the shooting. She was a graduate of the Environmental Health Science program at CSUSB.

In her arms, she held a framed photo of her daughter with her 2013 graduation tassel attached.

Yvette's sister Erica Porteous spoke to the crowd during the ceremony.

"She cared about the planet, she cared about human beings, she believed in peace," Porteous said.

Family members of victims laid flowers on the memorial built in honor of their loved ones. For some, tears filled their eyes.

Sastry Pantula, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, said after repeated gun violence in the four years since the attack, his students are desensitized.

"People are getting immune to hearing the news of these shootings," Pantula said. "That's what bothers our students, our faculty and bothers me."

But still, Velasco hasn't given up hope for gun control. "I'm not a pessimist, so I expect change," she said

She says in the community, she's found strength. "The love that we have received, the prayers, everything."

And through love, she says they will heal.

"Love each other, care about our world, our people, our kids, just love each other," Velasco said. ​

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