Location: Renaissance Presbyterian Church | 1211 Boynton Dr. – Chattanooga, TN 37402
Date and Time: Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 1:00 pm
On September 24, 2022, Chattanooga’s grieving community will convene to remember all seven women, including the two fatalities. At the Celebration of Life Resilience and Remembrance service, we will be reminded of these ladies and all victims of gun violence. On a warm evening in September 2021 seven females were gunned down while attending a neighborhood block party and two were fatal. To date, no justice has been served. There is still no word despite a $20,000 reward offered by The Grove Street Justice Fund, and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly’s Office information and the conviction of the shooter (s). To date, no witnesses have come forward and no arrests have been made. Hopefully, the day will come when we will not be able to add new victims to this list. Each tragedy leaves visible and invisible scars on survivors, families, and entire communities.
To date, there have been some 470 mass shootings in the United States. Last year alone, according to the Chattanooga Police Department Crime Analysis division, 61% of the homicides in Chattanooga were committed by African American male perpetrators, who are becoming increasingly younger each year. Homicides include violent crimes, domestic, gang related, and gun violence.
“To lose a loved one in death can be a very emotional process for the families left to mourn,” says Betty Maddox Battle, founder of G.R.I.E.V.E., a nonprofit organization offering support to victims of violent crimes. “To lose a loved one whether son, daughter, brother or father to a senseless murder such as gun violence, is a different kind of grief and even more challenging to process. And the gun violence continues.” She believes the real challenge is the act of forgiveness. “We are all children of God and that love dwells within”. On September 24th 2022, at the Renaissance Presbyterian Church 1211 Boynton Drive, a community of clergy, concerned residents and community leaders will gather to honor those victims and provide support. “I know because I’ve been there.”