Initiative in South Philadelphia aims to raise gun violence awareness and help loved ones heal
They were led by a Philadelphia Housing Authority escort and a drum band.
Marguerite Ruff was in that march and said her 23-year-old son was murdered in 2015. She's still searching for justice.
"Coming up on his 10th anniversary, and it's worse for me now than before because I do not have closure," Riff said.
The procession led to a concert Monday night. It's all part of an initiative called "Wake Up, Rise Up, Live for Peace."
Douglas Payne, the founder, said he is a retired School District of Philadelphia teacher and has lost several students to gun violence.
"I said, 'I have to do something about it,'" he said.
The initiative unites musicians and athletes to raise awareness for all types of violence. The music and content have reached people worldwide.
"We don't have the answers. We don't know how to stop the violence, but we refuse to remain silent," Payne said
Many of the victims families said they are never going to stop fighting against gun violence. They say hope fuels them.
Dr. Roxanne Contee, who is also a teacher, said her son was killed in 2021 and said seeing this type of support lifts her up and hopes the violence stops.
"They don't even see 40s, 50s, 60s," Contee said. "They are leaving here at the age of 16, 15, 13, 12."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Diddy's Ex-Girlfriend Asks The Judge To Release Him Ahead Of Sentencing
An ex-girlfriend of Sean 'Diddy' Combs is urging the judge to release the music mogul on bail while he awaits his October sentencing. Virginia Huynh, who identified herself as Victim 3 in the federal government's indictment against Combs, wrote in a letter submitted to the judge this weekend that she has known the artist for many years in both a personal and professional capacity. She wrote that while their relationship had many ups and downs, Combs always tried to become a better person. 'By the time our relationship ended, he embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior,' she wrote. 'To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first.' Combs was acquitted last month of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, but he was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Last week, Combs' attorneys filed a motion asking the judge to release him on $50 million bond before his October sentencing hearing. Combs has been in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his September arrest and has been denied release multiple times. Huynh's letter asks the judge to consider letting Combs out on bond until October. She wrote that she does not view Combs as a danger to her or the community, and said he should be released because he has children who depend on him for financial and emotional support. 'I want to assure the Court that if released, I believe Mr. Combs will adhere to all conditions imposed and will not jeopardize his freedom or the well-being of his family,' Huynh wrote. In the indictment against Combs, prosecutors said Combs used his 'power and prestige' to intimidate and threaten women, often while he was in a romantic relationship with them. 'On multiple occasions, Combs threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked and shoved others,' the indictment read. 'On one occasion, Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.' Huynh did not testify in the trial against Combs. Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura did, however, telling the court that Combs forced her to participate in sex marathons known as 'freak-offs.' Related... Here's Why Trump Says A Diddy Pardon Would Be 'Difficult' For Him Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Sentencing Set After Split Verdict In Federal Sex Crimes Case Diddy Gets Eyebrow-Raising Reaction From Inmates After Verdict, Lawyer Claims
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Colorado funeral home owner accused of sending fake ashes pleads guilty to fraud
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado funeral home owner admitted to sending grieving families fake ashes and defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors Monday. Carie Hallford, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. As part of the agreement, Hallford admitted to sending families dry concrete in place of ashes and stashing decomposing bodies in a room-temperature building. U.S. District Judge Nina Wang rejected a previous agreement between Hallford and prosecutors last year. Wang will decide whether to accept the current agreement that includes dropping 14 other federal charges. Hallford's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3 and prosecutors are asking for no more than 15 years. In a separate case in state court, Carie and her husband, Jon Hallford, are charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse for burying the wrong body in two cases and stashing about 190 others in a room-temperature building in Penrose, Colorado, about a two-hour drive south of Denver. Some of the bodies languished for four years, many stacked atop each other in various stages of decay. Jon Hallford has pleaded guilty to fraud in the federal case and to the 191 counts of corpse abuse in the state case. Carie Hallford initially pleaded guilty to the corpse abuse counts in the state case but has since withdrawn her plea. Hallford's next hearing in that case is Sept. 4.
Bloomberg
19 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Epstein Victims Express ‘Disgust and Fear' at Handling of Files
A pair of Jeffrey Epstein's victims blasted the Trump administration and the Justice Department for their attempts to unseal grand jury testimony in the criminal case against the late financier, saying government officials haven't listened to the voices of people who were harmed by his actions. The two victims, who weren't identified, asked in separate letters filed in a Manhattan court Monday, that any files related to Epstein be reviewed to protect their privacy before being released to the public. Epstein died in prison in 2019 as he faced sex-trafficking charges.
