“I’m here because I lost my son 9 years ago. He was shot 30 times with a semi-automatic gun. To this day his case is a cold case, it’s unsolved, they know who killed my son, they have all the perpetrators. I have $250,000 reward but I have nowhere to put it. I’m tired. I’m not just fighting for my son now. I just want the mayor to acknowledge the mothers and fathers who are trying to do something for our kids. My son worked for Bernal Heights recreation center. He was on his way to work. 3 o’clock broad daylight, broad daylight. He walked out his house on his was to work. Saw the perpetrators going down the street to shoot someone else. I always taught my son to protect people, protect your sisters and brothers, he did what his mother would have done, he put himself in the limelight, went out in the street and said ‘Run!’ His words were ‘run’. Everybody ran, he saved 10 people that day. Who was left? My son. And since they couldn’t get the people the wanted to get, they shot my boy. My 17 year old boy. He had just turned 17, 3 months into his 17th birthday. He was due to graduate but I had to walk across the stage to receive his diploma. My life changed that day, my life will never be the same. I can’t sit in a therapists office and have them tell me ‘your time is up’. My therapy is right here, wherever I can go and bring awareness to these unsolved homicides. I don’t know what it is, they call it black on black crime, but our cases are not being heard. People of color are dying senselessly. How long do mother’s like me have to stand out here for justice?

“I’m sorry for all you’ve been through. Are you a hugger?”

“Say what?”

“Is it okay if I give you a hug?”

“Yes baby…you know, you remind me of my son. He was about your height. You make sure you tell your mom you love her everyday.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“And be careful out here.”

“Yes ma’am.”