JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The founder of the group Families of Slain Children said she is fed up with the violence in the city.
Beverly McClain said she did not want to have to add 22-month-old Aiden McClendon’s name to the memorial wall in front of her office. Aiden was killed in a gang-related shooting on Friday night.
She said she has way too many names on the wall as it is. It’s full of victims and every time someone gets killed in the city, especially a young person, McClain weeps in anguish. That’s why her plea Monday afternoon was a strong one.
McClain’s passion and urgency could be heard down the street. Dozens stopped to listen in to her news conference, which had a common theme: Stop the violence.
“Everybody needs to come together. The Westside, the Eastside, the Northside. We all need to come together,” McClain said.
There was music, several guest speakers, and even some who stood up to ask questions. Then there were guys like Orain Reddick, who came just to show support. He grew up in Grand Park, which has seen its fair share of crime.
“We need to start funneling those funds to actual programs that are working. Over policing is not the answer,” Reddick said.
For many, Aiden McClendon’s death hits home. It’s faces like his that make McClain keep fighting every day to find a solution.
“I am sick to death of seeing us lose our babies. That baby didn’t even have the chance at his life. Don’t make no sense. C’mon y’all,” McClain said.
As the city moves towards a plan, some don’t want us to forget the core problem: Lack of hope, jobs and opportunities, which is leading to crime.
“I speak to too many of them who are trying to find a way out, but their reality is when they walk out the house they have to make sure they have a gun on them because they may get killed,” McClain said.
McClain said she plans on adding little Aiden’s name to this wall, as well as the 13 other people who’ve been killed in Jacksonville so far this year.
Families of Slain Children does more than just help families deal with senseless deaths. It also provides food and basic necessities to the community.
Cox Media Group
