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Milwaukee — The city of Milwaukee will break the murder record for the third year in a row in 2022. This is an issue city leaders and community members said they will continue to fight.
A Milwaukee mother is helping those affected by gun violence share their stories.
Debra Gillispe is the founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence. In 2003, she lost her son Kirk Her Become Jr. to gun violence in the city.
Twenty years later, she still does everything she can to share support and resources for others going through the same thing.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
Through a partnership between Mothers Against Gun Violence, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Carroll University, and the Milwaukee County Transit System, interactive murals were installed at two bus stops in Milwaukee.
People can scan the QR code on the bus stop mural. Go to a webpage where people who have been affected by gun violence across Wisconsin share their stories.
Bus stop murals are located at 12th Avenue and State Street, 6th Avenue and Highland Avenue. A third interactive mural is in the works.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
“I’m so honored to see these stories and share their voices,” said Gillispe.
Gillispe said he has noticed a worsening of gun violence in the city over the years.
“I think it’s very important to show that gun violence isn’t just a black or brown problem,” she said. They represent our community.”
She said giving her faith and giving others a voice has helped her with her own grieving process.
“The grief was unexpected and it’s been really nice to be healed,” Gillispé said. “God used it for good. He used it to raise the voices of other survivors.”
The artist behind these murals is local Milwaukee artist Natalie Darr.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
She listened to personal interviews to better understand each victim so she could accurately represent them through her murals.
“The greatest reward is being able to talk and talk to people who have actually gone through this and get better ideas on how to create artwork that truly reflects that person,” said Derr. increase.
She was connected to Girispé through a former professor at UWM.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to work with Debra,” said Derr. “She is a community beacon for all she stands for and all the people she supports.”
Gillispe said these interactive murals are just one way to give survivors a voice and inspire change in their communities, one story at a time.
If you have been affected by gun violence and would like to share your story, you can contact the project here.
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