Mothers march against violence - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A group of local mothers marched with a message on Saturday to bring attention to violence and crime in the city.

For many of the mothers there is special meaning for why they want the message to be heard.

It was under a light pole in the 3200 block of North Park Avenue, where Terrell Joyce was murdered.

"Whoever killed my son, I'm asking them to come forward and be accountable," said his mother on Saturday.

The plea from a mother is punctuated by a march in the street. The Mothers Against Violence and the Ten Point Coalition had tried to get the message out two weeks ago but were stopped cold in their tracks.

"A group of young men pulled up in two different cars and pulled guns out on the women who were marching," explained  Rev. Charles Harrison.

Exactly the kind of violence they are marching to stop.

"A lot of them are afraid," he said.

Every member of the group has lost a child to violence they meet to pray at the scene of the crime. Members of the Ten Point Coalition attend the funerals of victims.  Until recently violence in the downtown area seemed to be down.

Rev. Harrison says, "Some of these gangs seem to be getting more aggressive and we see the level of the violence starting to increase in the city."

Is this the answer, a march down the street, stop the violence yard signs, a prayer vigil at a crime scene ?

"Proactively what are we doing to make a difference in the community," said Acting IMPD Chief of Police Rick Hite.

He believes it is a step in the right direction, "We are lettin them know you don't terrorize the community you don't own the community in the sense you are able to wreak havoc."