Hundreds of Louisville Subway mothers have lost children to gun violence, and Mayor Craig Greenberg met with a group of them Tuesday to hear their stories first hand. Share their grief and lean on each other. Kenneth Forbes launched the group after his son was murdered in 2012. One by one, he shares the moment each mother changed their lives forever. For Keraia Perry, the moment is still fresh. Her son Jamaury Johnson was shot dead in Chickasaw Park in December. “I’m hurt. It’s really hurt. I never thought I’d go through something like this in my life. He was only 15. He was just a baby,” Perry said. . In July 2021, her 1-year-old daughter Nylah was shot dead. , Greenberg sat and listened. “There’s nothing we can do to get your kids back together, but hopefully we can find the strength together to keep this group from expanding.” Greenberg said. has made reducing violent crime a top priority since taking office, and as part of that, we meet with groups like these who live with the effects of violent crime every day. She is the founder of the ACE Project, which she started in honor of her son Corey “Ace” Crowe, who was murdered in October 2014. Smith purchased an abandoned house on the corner of her 25th Street and her Standard Avenue where her son was murdered. She restored the building and made it home to the ACE project. Her home is also a meeting place for the MOMS group. Smith was happy to see Greenberg attend the conference. She says other officials were invited but rarely showed up.Mayor Smith shared the steps his administration was taking, but the women in the group stepped in to find solutions. “No one can do this job. I’m not going to leave it all to the mayor, I’m not going to leave it all to the police. I’m going to leave it all in your hands.” Do whatever you can.Elgina Bullock-Smith has been attending MOMS meetings since the loss of her son Anthony in 2015. In our family. No. We have done our best to be parents who are model citizens but we still have a deceased child. Like many women in the group her son’s case remains unsolved. Some of the women I spoke with said it was very difficult to get updates on their cases and they often didn’t get a call back. If there’s one thing, it’s that so many people have had the same experience of contacting someone at the police station, contacting a detective, and getting no response. I can assure you that I will speak to our Chief of Police soon. “If they are overwhelmed, do something for us. We are here to work.” We want change as bad as our communities and the families who go through and work with it.We are ready to help.So I want to help,” said Bullock. – said Smith.
Hundreds of Louisville Subway mothers have lost their children to gun violence, and Mayor Craig Greenberg met with them in person on Tuesday to hear their story.
Each month, a group called “MOMS Kentucky Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters” gather to share their grief and stand by each other. Kenneth Forbes launched the group after his son was murdered in 2012.
Each mother shares one moment that changed their lives forever.
For Keraia Perry, the moment is still fresh. Her son Jamaury Johnson was shot dead in Chickasaw Park in December.
“I’m hurt. It’s really hurt. I never thought I’d go through something like this in my life. He was only 15. He was just a baby,” Perry said. .
Candy Linear remembered where she was when her 16-year-old daughter Nylah was shot dead in July 2021.
“The funny thing is that I heard gunshots the same day I was sitting on the porch, not knowing they were killing my child,” Rinia said.
Greenberg sat and listened as each woman told her story.
“There’s nothing we can do to get your kids back together, but hopefully we can find the strength together to keep this group from expanding,” Green said. Berg said.
Since taking office, Greenberg has made reducing violent crime a top priority, and as part of that, he meets with groups like these who live with the effects of violent crime every day.
Rose Smith is the founder of the ACE project, which stands for Act Compassionate every day. She began by paying tribute to her murdered son Corey “Ace” Crowe in October 2014.
Smith bought the abandoned house on the corner of 25th Street and Standard Avenue where his son was killed. She restored the building and made it home to the ACE project.
My house is also a meeting place for the MOMS group.
Smith was happy to see Greenberg attend the conference. She says other officials were invited, but few showed up.
“It meant a lot to him that he showed up. Hopefully he didn’t just listen, he felt the pain that’s haunting us here tonight,” Smith said. rice field.
The mayor shared the steps his administration was taking, but the women in the group were more eager to step in and be part of the solution.
“No one can do this job. I won’t leave it all to the mayor or the police. I will leave it to everyone. Do whatever your hands can do. Our city.” needs it, so let’s get it done. We need change,” said Elgina Bullock-Smith.
Bullock-Smith has been attending MOMS meetings since the death of his son Anthony in 2015.
Brock-Smith said, “Our family has never committed murder. We don’t know what it’s like. We tried our best to be exemplary parents to our citizens. I still have children who have died,” he said.
Like many women in the group, her son’s case remains unsolved. Some of the women I spoke with said it was very difficult to get updates on their cases, and they often didn’t get a call back.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my short time with you guys tonight, it’s that there are so many people who have had the same experience of contacting someone at the police station, contacting a detective and getting no response. No, that’s what I heard, and I can assure you that I will discuss it with our Chief of Police soon.
Some women even volunteered to serve as liaisons between the police and other families who were victims of violence.
“If they are overwhelmed, do something for us. We are here to work. I want change as bad as families working more than they can, so I want to help,” said Bullock-Smith.
