South Atlanta mothers organize to prevent gang violence and support survivors

Caption

Atlanta City Councilmember Antonio Lewis joins Mothers Against Gang Violence founder Tekesia Shields to talk about policy on September 4, 2024.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites firearms as the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. South Atlanta organization Mothers Against Gang Violence are rallying support for a list of policies to help survivors recover after traumatic events.

The policy platform is called “Right to Heal” and it was created by the crime prevention group Alliance for Safety and Justice. It outlines 11 policy solutions to provide survivors with financial, emotional, and legal support in their communities in the wake of a crime.

Atlanta City Councilmember Antonio Lewis spoke with members of the group to join calls for innovative planning to break the cycles of violence.

“I think we are at risk of losing a generation of young Black men,” Lewis said. “I think that we are calling them gangbangers. I don't want to lock our way up out of this. I think we have to be smart on crime.”

In 2023 Mothers Against Gang Violence helped over 400 families connect with resources to recover from trauma. Aswad Thomas is the Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice. He said survivors need rights that include things like job stability.

“What would it look like if all survivors had a right to these employment protections that allow you to have time off work for you to grieve and heal, for you to plan funerals, for you to navigate the justice system, for you to go get counseling?” Thomas said.

His group will join Mothers Against Gang Violence for a Crime Survivors Speak march on Washington, D.C., Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.