Gun Violence Prevention Walk held in Newport News
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – The Newport News Police Department held its annual Gun Violence Prevention Walk at City Center on Wednesday.
The walk was a way to raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives who have been lost. It also featured speakers, music, prayer and poetry.
Newport News officials and those who have been impacted by gun violence all came together to walk, including Nikitia Royal who spoke about losing her daughter Nekaybaw in a domestic violence homicide in 2023.
'I shared my story and hope to stop so much gun violence that's going on in our community,' Royal said. 'It's comforting being around people who understand and know what you're going through because they're walking the same walk that you're walking.'
Because June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, people were wearing orange ribbons, shirts and even holding orange pinwheels.
The event is sponsored by the Newport News Police Department's Homicide Support Group. Police Chief Steve Drew told 10 On Your Side it's a way to unite people.
'I would love to say that it's a perfect world and we're never going to have another violent act in our city. But it is encouraging for me to see people coming together that are willing to support one another when they go through one of those critical times,' Drew said.
Both Drew and Royal believe that it's ultimately up to everyone to make a difference when it comes to gun violence.
'There's so many young people lives being lost, and it's just really sad. So, the only way for us to really hope to overcome this issue is to work together as a community,' Royal said.
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