JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mother’s Day is just one day away; it is a day often filled with flowers, quality time and smiles for some. For others, this weekend can seem unbearable.
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Local nonprofit My Creative Culture hosted an event Saturday morning in Moncrief to uplift mothers who have lost a child to gun violence.
Nicole Lonon is the founder of My Creative Culture.
“I just felt like this would be the perfect opportunity to do it the day before Mother’s Day to give the moms a sense of knowing that even if your case isn’t solved, we’re still behind you,” Lonon said. “It’s not unrecognized. We’re still here, and we’re still behind you.”
As she puts it, the fight is not over.
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The ‘Walk of Life’ started at Simonds-Johnson Park and ended at the Clanzel T. Brown Center, where there was a bounce house for the kids, free food and gifts for mothers.
K’wanna Dunbar is the assistant manager of My Creative Culture. She’s calling for unity.
“I just want peace,” Dunbar said. “Peace and justice for everybody. I want us to be able to get along again, because back in the days we all could get along. I just want us to be at peace and unity within the community in one accord.”
Dunbar said she and her team would like to get to know the families impacted by gun violence on a personal level.
“By doing this, it’s to let them know someone cares,” Dunbar said.
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The event was also held to support the friends, neighbors and others who are still searching for answers.
“Just a couple of days ago, one of my good friends was gunned down,” Lonon said. “And I also have a god-daughter that passed away a couple of years ago from gun violence.”
“I lost my uncle in 2015 to gun violence,” Dunbar said.
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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s transparency page shows that there have been 50 murders in Jacksonville this year alone.
Action News Jax records show 123 Jacksonville shootings in 2022.
“I would like to see people put these guns down and stop the violence,” event attendee Thomas Allen said.