Tulsa Families Rally To Demand End To Violence

Lacie Lowry, News on 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- North Tulsa families are joining together demanding an end to the violence on their streets. They organized a peace rally Saturday afternoon after another life was cut short in a deadly shooting last month.

The families say these killings are unacceptable and they're standing up against violence.

"My brother was the 36th homicide here in North Tulsa," said Vernetter Knapper, a homicide victim's sister. "It took me losing my own sibling, to just, I'm ready for a change. I've been ready."

These are all people who have lost a loved one due to violence in north Tulsa.

"My daughter was killed July the 10, 2011," said Sheila Richardson, a victim's mother.

They want two things, justice and peace.

Vernetter's brother, Jimmy Knapper, died last month.

"It's time to start forgiving and moving forward, working toward solution so our children can have somewhere safe to grow," Vernetter said.

This support group is making a pledge to join together and be one voice for many victims.

"Everybody you see standing here is hurting," said Jason Trent, a victim's father. "Everybody you see standing here has cried themselves to sleep at night."

Jason's son was killed may 12, 2009. He and everyone else at this peace gathering don't want other families to have to go through the same thing.

"We demand to be heard, we demand that our loved one's killers be brought to justice," Trent said.

Sheila's daughter, Kanisha Jackson, was a teaching assistant at Hawthorne Elementary school and the mother of a five-year-old girl.

"The people who saw who killed my daughter, I wish you would speak for her because I know you saw who did it," Sheila said.