Statewide Alliance of Organizations Hold 'Day of Remembrance for Victims of Homicide'

The press conference and rally for the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Homicide was held on Thursday, September 25 in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

Families of victims and community leaders spoke about:

    --  The need for justice for victims and their families
    --  Breaking the cycle of community violence
    --  Promoting community involvement to prevent murder and violence.

Speakers included Commissioner Michael Campion, Minnesota Department of Public Safety; Pamela Alexander, former Hennepin County Judge and current Executive Director of the Council on Crime and Justice; Senator Scott Dibble; Lt. Larry Doyle from theMinneapolis Police Department; Sgt. Tom Bergren,St. Paul Police Homicide; Jim Backstrom,Dakota County Attorney; Mike Freeman,Hennepin County Attorney; Shane Price, Director Northpoint Health and Wellness African American Men Project; V.J. Smith, MADDADS and mothers of sons lost to murder: Sharon Brown, Maggie Doran and Mary Johnson.

Kenneth Scales, Vista volunteer for the Peace Foundation, moderated the event. "I represent those of us who are most at risk for getting shot. I am young, black and male."

Immediately following the press conference, a rally was held on the capitol steps with poetry, music and dance calling for justice and prevention for homicide inMinnesota.

A forum on gun violence called, "Don't Shoot: I Want to Live" is planned for 6:00pm at the Peace Foundation 1119 West Broadway Avenue,Minneapolis, MN 55411. Other groups around the state held vigils and other events, including a candlelight vigil on the evening of September 24 at Broadway School inMinneapolis and a bell-ringing on September 25 held by the Northland Million Mom Chapter inDuluth.

"We hope that the Day of Remembrance will not only pay tribute to victims of homicide, but will also help educate the community on preventing senseless deaths," said MAC Executive Director Leah Sweet. "This is a growing problem inMinnesota that needs to be solved." Sweet added that there were 111 homicides reported inMinnesota in 2007. "Gun violence is rampant in some communities," said Citizens for a Safer Minnesota Executive Director Sue Fust. "Little girls and babies are being shot by stray bullets."

Organizations co-sponsoring the Day of Remembrance include: The Ben Doran Foundation; Citizens for a Safer Minnesota; Council on Crime and Justice; From Death to Life: Two Mothers; MADDADS; Minnesota Alliance on Crime; Minnesota Parents Protecting Children; Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, African American Men Project; Parents of Murdered Children, Minnesota Hope Chapter; Peace Foundation; and Twin Cities Anti-Violence Coalition.

The annual Day of Remembrance is recognized nationally and marks the anniversary of the murder of Lisa Hollinger, daughter of a founding member of Parents of Murdered Children.

The Minnesota Alliance on Crime is a statewide alliance for crime victim programs and promotes the advancement of services inMinnesota through education, resources, and legislation.

SOURCE Citizens for a Safer Minnesota