Families of victims call for end of gun violence

ROCKINGHAM — Families of the victims of gun violence gathered at the James C. and Ruth P. Watkins Cultural Center to unite and discuss their experiences.

There were five individuals whose photos were displayed at the front of the stage. Their family members were invited to share their stories involving gun violence with the 40-person audience.

“I just don’t want other families going through this,” said Tinikianni Baldwin, who organized the event and started the Facebook group Voice for Change (Stop the Gun Violence). “It’s so hard — we need to give our kids a fighting chance at life.”

This event marked the two-year anniversary of the murder of her son, Kinnie Marquan Utley.

D.M. Mason, a Richmond County-native who preaches at the Healing Center Church in Salisbury, made an appeal to the audience that they will all do their best to save lives.

“Just as much as we are all sitting here by the grace of God, each one of these young men should be here right now,” Mason said. “This is the moment we have to declare, ‘No more unnecessary casualties.’”

His brother was gunned down in Baltimore.

“The greatest tragedy is a tragedy that didn’t have to happen,” Mason declared. “My challenge to you is to be on duty as lifeguards.”

Priscilla Graham was encouraged by all of the young people in attendance.

“We just need to pray for our young people,” Graham said. “I’ve never experienced [gun violence], but I’m just showing love and support to the families.”

Bruce Stanback, the coordinator for Richmond County’s teen court, used the amount of people in the room as an example of how much pain gun violence can leave in its wake. An anecdote from his own life: a friend of his from Pittsburgh called him 10 years ago to say that his son was killed at a house party when an unknown guest shot randomly into the house.

Stanback was happy to see young people in attendance, and said that their next generation doesn’t have to go through these tragedies. He said that he’s encouraged that this event facilitated the space and time for young people to express themselves.

“All of our kids have the potential to be great people,” Stanback said. “I don’t care what your circumstances is — you all have the potential to be awesome individuals.”

Stanback said this event is a “stepping stone” for future action.

De’Oliver Smith and Roderick Newton, T.A.B. Black and T.A.B. Rod respectively, performed a rap song together which was inspired by the death of Quan, Tinikianni’s son.

Caleb Ryan was shot in the back with a shotgun. His mother, Kayla Bundy, shared her experience.

“Your life is never the same,” she said. “His two brothers — their lives will never be the same. One day, we will get this under control.”

Preacher Michelle Ellerbe agreed that this event was a signifier of things to come, but said it’s the job of everyone in attendance to spread the message of peaceful conflict resolution.

Ellerbe remarked how so many people gathered for Quan’s death a few years ago, but so few are willing to put in the work to prevent future tragedies.

“We’re sick and tired of the funeral programs, of our children falling dead in the streets,” Ellerbe said. “We’re sick and tired of us being gathered together at the graveyard, but then when it’s time for change, we don’t see them anywhere.”

Ellerbe concluded her speech by saying that she wants the legacy of every individual honored at the event to live on and that it’s their job as a community to not forget them.

“Unfortunately, the people who need to hear our message are not here,” Ellerbe said. “You are commissioned to teach — tell your family members, friends, community, about what we are doing.”