Mothers who lost children are leading Milwaukee’s effort to end gun violence

MILWAUKEE — A 15-year-old lady is hospitalized with essential accidents after being shot close to seventeenth and Capitol Thursday evening. Milwaukee police are nonetheless investigating and have nobody in custody for it.

On Friday morning, Mayor Cavalier Johnson, native activists, and folks instantly impacted by gun violence gathered at metropolis corridor to declare this primary week of February, “Nationwide Gun Violence Survivors Week” in Milwaukee.

Gun violence has grow to be a public well being disaster within the metropolis, and leaders are asking everybody who lives and works right here, to get entangled in options.

At present, it’s the individuals who’ve misplaced family members to gun violence who’re doing probably the most to foster change. They know too nicely the painful ripple results of gun violence on households, faculty and neighborhoods.

“I miss you a lot Amareon,” mentioned Amareon’s mother, Kewannee Allen, whereas standing beside his grave. “There’s not a day or time that goes by that I don’t consider you.”

TMJ4’s Katie Crowther stood with Kewannee at Amareon’s gravesite Friday – a day earlier than he would have turned 21. Kewannee can be again at Graceland Cemetery tomorrow along with her complete household. They’ll ship up balloons to heaven and exit to eat in honor of Amareon’s birthday.

Amareon, a Marshall Excessive Faculty soccer standout, was shot and killed at a house in Brown Deer in November of 2021. He was simply 19 years previous. On the time, he was dwelling from faculty in Iowa.

Submitted

Advertisement

Submitted

“I used to be very pleased with him,” Kewannee mentioned. “My son wasn’t a foul child. He had no prison document. He was a great child with a shiny future. He lit up each room. Folks liked him. I nonetheless don’t totally know or perceive what occurred.”

Three Brown Deer detectives confirmed up at her door, as she was ready for her son to come back dwelling, questioning why he was late.

“The person requested me what my son had been sporting, so I described the whole lot he had on.” Kewannee mentioned. “Then he requested if he might present me a photograph, and I didn’t wish to see it, as a result of I knew proper then that one thing occurred, and my child was gone. My husband ended up wanting on the image and simply put his head down.”

It’s been a bit of over a 12 months, and Kewannee has saved Amareon’s bed room precisely as he left it.

“I can’t get myself to take away or change something,” she mentioned. “His soiled garments are nonetheless within the soiled garments basket.”

Earlier than coming to the cemetery, Kewannee had gathered with different moms who’ve misplaced youngsters to gun violence, and advocates preventing for stricter gun legal guidelines.

“Now we have to be there for everybody,” Kewannee mentioned. “Attempting to ensure no different mom goes by this brings me a bit of peace. It’s unhappy that shootings hold taking place. I want I had all of the solutions to cease the violence, however I don’t.”

“As dad and mom, we are able to do the whole lot to ensure our youngsters are heading in the right direction, however that doesn’t imply that generally they may make a fallacious resolution,” she continued. “That doesn’t imply each baby we lose to violence comes from a foul dwelling or has unhealthy dad and mom. It solely took one time for my son to inform me he was going someplace, then ended up some place else. I had a intestine feeling as a mom that one thing wasn’t proper, and now I’m not ever going to get him again. It simply hurts. He was solely 19 and had a lot potential.”

Kewannee retains transferring ahead, as a result of she is aware of her different youngsters want her. So does this trigger, of sparing extra younger individuals from gun violence, and preserving extra moms in Milwaukee at peace.

Report a typo or error // Submit a information tip