Stop the Gun Violence rally held in Palmore Park 

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Raven Young

With the recent rise of gun violence throughout Tuscaloosa County, community members are taking action in the hopes of addressing this issue head on.

Doris Lucas said she was inspired to organize the Stop the Gun Violence rally after listening to her sons talk about the severity of this rising trend.

“I just decided to go ahead and do this because everybody kept saying that nobody was doing anything, so I was like if I could bring out the leaders of the community and show them that we are crying out, maybe they will go ahead and get something done,” she said.

The rally was held Sunday, June 27, at Palmore Park, featuring speakers including Northport District 2 City Council Member Woodrow Washington and Tuscaloosa City Schools District 5 Board Member Erica Grant, among others.

“Gun violence, mental illness and different emotional issues that have been going on have definitely been a big factor throughout the pandemic,” Grant said. “This school year, that’s definitely something we are talking about.”

The rally also featured an open discussion regarding the importance of mental health awareness.

“We need to have economic investment within our community. We have to come together and value things like mental healthcare and put education at the top of the priority list, and that will make gun violence a thing of the past,” said Jessy Ohl, associate professor in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama.

The event ended with a balloon release, representing loved ones who have been lost to gun violence.