MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The lights on the Hernando DeSoto bridge in downtown Memphis will glow red, white and black Wednesday evening in honor of the 293 lives lost to violence this year.
Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich delivered remarks on behalf of victims and their loved ones at 5 p.m.
“We hope this special display of lights will bring a small bit of peace to all of the families mourning the loss of their loved ones,” Weirich said.
The bridge colors were chosen based on the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, which is on Sept. 25 each year.
The lights will alternate between the colors and a light show every few minutes until 10:30 p.m. After that, the lights will remain static until sunrise.
Activist Stevie Moore says he personally understands the pain all of the families are going through but says we must do more than just remember if we ever want to see the killings come to an end.
“We blame law enforcement. We blame the political leaders but the community got to start back policing their own communities,” Moore said.
Moore says he has good working relationships with several law enforcement agencies in shelby county as well as the district attorney’s office. He says in order to reduce crime, there must be better relationships between the community and law enforcement.
“Our young black men fear the police. They don’t like them. As me being an ex-convict I understand,” Moore said.
With 2020 being labeled as the most dangerous year for Memphians, Moore says the community must be willing to speak up and report criminal behaviour before the trigger is pulled.
Moore’s hosted countless events to bring awareness to gun violence but says it’s time for a concrete plan to end it.
“At the end of the day, we walk. We come in front of the cameras. We say our little things and then we go home. Next morning another child is dead,” Moore said.
Now many of these crimes remain unsolved. So as always you are encouraged to contact crimestoppers or you can call moore’s tip line at 901-417-7361