A small march from Louisville's Jefferson County Clerk building to the Federal Building to bring awareness to gun violence that's been plaguing the city.
Youths joined adults and elders alike to bring awareness to the growing gun violence of Louisville Kentucky. They expressed it via a Rally and March.
6/11/2022 by K Taylor
June 11th at 1pm a gathering of citizens held speeches and chants at West Jefferson St in front of the Louisville Metro Government building Louisville's government building where the monument of Thomas Jefferson with the Declaration Of Independence holds vigil to voice the growing anger and frustrations
of the recent violence caused by guns that permeates throughout The Commonwealth.
The gathering in a nice balmy and sunny afternoon migrated via a march to the Federal building where it symbolizes the home of Senator Mitch McConnel (R) of whom no doubt opposes any legislation of curtailing access to guns. He or any other Republican were in attendance of the anti-easy-access-to-gun protest.
Mayor Greg Fischer led the proceeding by introducing the numerous speakers made up of mostly black people whom are most affected by gun violence. And also speaking were a number of youths whom spoke of their experience via the spoken word poems or rap. Mayor Fischer invoked directly Senator Mitch McConnell's name repeatedly challenging the Senator to break party lines and support any kind of legislation towards curtailing easy access to assault weapons.
A speech from the Mayor's youth council, Solyana Mesfin,19 and a graduate of Eastern Highschool, who serves on the board of education also spoke. Her points were:
- bring awareness to the recent shootings at Eastern High school earlier this year at a bus stop.
- Frustrated that we have to beg for people to listen concerning the proliferation of gun violence in Louisville Ky.
- urges politicians to prioritize people over guns.
Ms. Solyana Mesfin, was showcased by Louisville's news channel WDRB story link in 2015 for what she's apparently dedicated her life to do.
The march proceeded after a few speeches from notables like US Representative John Yarmuth (D) and gun-violence survivors in the form of mothers.
Representative Yarmuth spoke for about ten minutes chastising the Right for not recognizing the need to curtail the access to assault weapons.
The mother of a son whose a fatal victim of gun violence, Rose Smith, first thanked the youth for taking a lead against gun violence. Her son Corey (Ace) Croe, 24, was killed in Oct of 2014 and his murder is still unsolved.
She recounted with passion and sentiment as she recited one of her son's last social media posts before his passing, "every mother on earth birth a child. Except my mother. She birthed a legend. High five mom".
She went on to start the ACE project and said that it would be his legacy. Then she went on to implore Mitch McConnell and the Republicans to stop blocking legislation to curtail access to ultra violent guns, such as assault weapons, which total purpose is to cause as much damage fatally and quick. Its purpose is solely for wartime battles.
The speeches were conducted between and under the towering columns holding up the County Clerk Building framing the speakers underneath. It symbolized that what was being said
are obliged to action for the representatives and politicians occupying the offices meant to serve the people.
At the Federal building a young black youth spoke of the injustices and discrimination being leveled against black youth because of the culture of gun uses.
His speech culminated the march on the Federal building with a return march to the County Clerk Building where Mayor Fisher introduced the very talented and energetic rap group "Real Youth Prodigies" addressed the politician's lack of action via a stirring youthful rap depicting their current lives.
This is where the Youth's Anti Violence Rally ended with an applause for the youthful rappers and the citizen participants dispersing to their cars.
I on the other hand, wasn't aware of the youth part of the rally until editing and writing this article. But it's nice to see the participation of our youths.
And some day, maybe the youthful adults can top this rally. Never say never.
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| Mayor Greg Fischer speaking |
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| Ms. Solyana Mesfin speaking. |
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| Marching Route |
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| bearing a cross at youth Anti Violence Rally |
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| Poet Reading |
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| US Representative John Yarmuth speaks. |
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| Gun Violence survivor Rose Smith and youths holding signs. |
| Louisville KY Anti Violence Rally Video |