CINCINNATI — Advocates who want to end gun violence are heading to the streets after recent shootings in the Cincinnati area.
Candle vases, old balloons and shoes hanging from a utility pole are a sad reminder of the most recent deadly shooting in one Cincinnati neighborhood.
Jeffery Robinson said he’s from the area and knew the woman who was shot and killed.
“Just make us remember every day,” Robinson said. “It is like we got to do something different in this community. We got to stop.”
Robinson said hearing gunshots and seeing a police response has turned into a nearly daily occurrence. But that doesn’t make it any easier.
“You never get used to it. It’s just is like another one, another one, another one,” said Robinson.
That’s where Mitch Morris Jr. and his street team come in. They’re hoping to fight gun violence with programs aimed at youth.
“It means something to us. All of us [have] been affected in one way or another by gun violence. You know, it’s just time for a change. We have babies and we have women, innocent bystanders getting caught up in this foolishness,” said Morris.
Morris’ team of volunteers are going straight to the streets to go up against gun violence.
His group, Save Our Youth Kings and Queens, is handing out flyers filled with information about their mentoring programs, job programs and mental health services. All of which are curated for teens.
“You got a lot of 13-year-olds and 16-year-olds getting killed. I actually have a son who is 16-years-old and I couldn’t imagine waking up to him not being here with me,” said Morris.
The group works to distribute this information to the public every day.
Robinson said it’s going to take more than just one group to stop the violence.
“We’ve got to become a family and take care of each other. It’s not worried about who get more than another. Let’s just help each other,” said Robinson.
For more information on Save Our Youth Kings and Queens, click here.