NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — Several hundred concerned residents came together in Northwest Miami-Dade, Sunday, for a community picnic and a peace rally in an effort to end gun violence in South Florida.
About 300 people gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park to raise awareness to the shootings that have claimed the lives of children and teens in the community.
Santonio Carter, the father of 6-year-old King Carter, knows that loss first-hand. "I would hate for something this tragic to come and knock on anybody else’s door. For them to lose a son, lose a daughter," he said.
On Feb. 20, King was killed by a stray bullet in front of his family’s Northwest Miami-Dade home. "Honestly, I can’t put the loss into words. I can’t find one word that could match up to the loss," said Santonio.
King’s family organized Sunday’s picnic to help bring positive change to their community. Many participants wore T-shirts that read "(hash)saveourkings" and "(hash)saveourqueens."
King’s loved ones said they hold this event every year, but this year it means more. "A 6-year-old who was just going to the candy store getting shot down in the streets of Miami? Enough is enough. We have to put the guns down," said Tawana Akins, King’s aunt.
The Carters were not the only ones calling for an end to violence on Sunday. A few miles away, at God’s Resurrection Ministry Inc., reformed gang members held a community rally called "Peace in the Hood."
The event was organized by former gang leader-turned-mixed martial arts fighter Rene "Level" Martinez to help bring peace to the streets. "It hurts my heart to see all of these babies dying due to stray bullets, innocent lives getting hit for no reason, man," he said.
Meanwhile, Carter’s mother expressed hope that their message will live on long after the fun ends, so other families won’t feel pain like hers. "Our kids are our future. We’re losing too many of them," said Monica Smith. "Every day they’re gone. You see them here, and then you don’t, and we’re here to bring the community together so it can stop."
King’s family said they will be hosting more events throughout the year to bring positivity to their community.