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A San Francisco jury's decision to acquit a Mexican man in the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle has generated anger as well as worry about a backlash against immigrants and "sanctuary city" policies.



"Whoever put that up didn't influence what we did, we just followed our procedure," said Gordon of the shrine's removal to the Examiner.

"The Steinle family placed a request with the Mayor's Office for the bench to remain as it was intended — a simple memorial in recognition of Kate and her spirit," said Lee's spokeswoman, Deirdre Hussey.



Steinle's name has been repeatedly invoked for political gain, given the undocumented immigrant status of accused shooter Jose Ines Garcia Zarate. Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump using Kate as an example on the campaign trail as to why the United States should build a wall along the Mexico border and keep immigrants out.



Trump took to Twitter to declaim the result of the trial, calling the verdict "disgraceful" and denouncing Democrats for being "weak on crime." Trump later sent out a letter to his supporters calling for an end to sanctuary cities, singling out San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago. The Twitter hashtag #BoycottSanFrancisco also began to take off following the verdict.

