Memorial signs stretched along the median of Sherman Boulevard across from Sherman Park on June 6, featuring photos of victims of gun violence.
The drive-through memorial, organized by Stop the Violence 53206 as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, invited families to display yard signs with pictures and names of their loved ones who were shot and killed.
Among those who participated was Marilyn Thomas, whose 21-year-old son, Brandon Thomas, lost his life to gun violence in October 2024.
Sitting with family members near the sign honoring her son, Thomas said she hopes the memorial helps draw attention to the toll of gun violence.
“Hopefully, the community can come together and stop the violence,” she said.
The way to do that, she said, is to “put these guns down.”
Honoring loved ones
The memorial featured photos of people killed by guns in Milwaukee and surrounding communities.
“Every memorial sign represents a life that mattered and a family forever changed,” said Kewannee Allen, who helped organize the memorial.
Allen said she became involved because of her own loss.
“I decided to help organize this memorial with Trinika Walker, founder of Stop the Violence 53206, because I know firsthand the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence,” Allen said. “After losing my son, Amareon, I realized how important it is for families to have a space where they can honor their loved ones, share their stories and feel supported in a new community they didn’t ask to be in.”
She founded the Amareon Allen Foundation in honor of her son.
Allen described Amareon as a loving, talented and determined young man who touched the lives of so many people.
“He was a freshman at Ellsworth Community College, a gifted athlete and had a bright future ahead of him,” she said. “He was known for his smile, leadership, dedication to football and willingness to help others.”
Most importantly, she added, “He was a son, brother, grandson and friend who was deeply loved by his family and community.”
What can we learn?
Allen said photos of Amareon and others featured in the memorial can have different impacts on different people.
She wants other families of gun violence victims to know they are not alone.
“There are other parents, families and support systems who understand this pain and are willing to walk alongside them,” Allen said. “Even in the darkest moments, there is hope. Take it one day, one hour and, sometimes, one minute at a time.”
She said she hopes people who drive past the memorial see more than statistics.
“I hope they feel a sense of love, sympathy, empathy, remembrance and community,” she said. “I want them to see beyond the statistics and headlines and recognize that every photo represents a real person.”
She said community members can support grieving families through simple everyday acts.
“A kind word, giving them grace, a listening ear, showing up to events like this memorial and working together to prevent violence can make a difference,” Allen said.
She hopes the memorial helps people better understand the lasting effects of gun violence.
“The pain doesn’t end when the news cameras leave or when the headlines fade away,” Allen said. “For families like mine, the loss is something we carry every single day.”
Finally, she hopes the memorial can serve as a reminder to invest in violence prevention, mental health support, youth opportunities, healing resources and community-led solutions.
“Real success isn’t just seeing the numbers go down – it’s seeing more young people thrive, more families feel safe and more communities heal,” Allen said.
Wear Orange Weekend
The memorial was part of National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, commonly known as Wear Orange Weekend.
The goal of Wear Orange Weekend is to raise awareness about gun violence and support efforts to prevent it.
Recent declines in homicides and shootings have given advocates reason for optimism.
Milwaukee recorded 43 homicides and 160 nonfatal shootings through June 7, down from 56 homicides and 215 nonfatal shootings during the same period last year, according to Milwaukee Police Department data.
“Without question we are encouraged by the decline in homicides and shootings because we recognize the work of so many residents and partners who have contributed to that progress,” said Bridget Whitaker, executive director of Safe & Sound.
Safe & Sound is an organization that works to increase safety through resident engagement and by connecting residents, police and other organizations.
Still, Whitaker said, “Any life lost to gun violence is still one too many.”
She said resources for survivors and families were available during the weekend, including grief counseling, victim advocacy and mental health services.
“I always want people to leave feeling hopeful and fired up to know that they have a role to play in violence prevention,” Whitaker said. “I need people to believe that safety is not one organization’s job. Safety is work we do together.”
For more information
People seeking support moving forward can contact Safe & Sound for information about organizations that offered resources during the weekend.
Safe & Sound can be reached at 414-220-4780 and info@safesound.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
