Mothers Involved Against Gun Violence a newly organized group made up of mothers who have lost their children to gun violence, held a rally and walk today at Figures Park to raise awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities.

"They started chanting and something hit me man because I could hear/feel the pain in her voice," said Joshua Jones, City of Mobile Youth Violence Prevention coordinator, "The reality set in, this is not just for show, we aren't out here just walking, and chanting and doing this just for show. It's people that are really hurting its pain in their voice, its pain in their cries."

Attendees brought symbols of their loved ones with them from pictures, shirts, photo albums, and even pillows as they walked a half-mile through the streets of Mobile.

Nija Hill the founder of Mothers Involved Against Gun Violence, lost her son 16-year-old son Chavan Scruggs to gun violence back in 2021 at this very park. She says today would have been his 18th birthday. Hill added it's important for the city to come together as a community to prevent another mother from mourning.

"It is going to take all of us. When we hurt, we are supposed to hurt together, that's the way it used to be. People have started to unwind from loving one another and we can't change this unless we love these kids," said Nija Hill the founder of Mothers Involved Against Gun Violence, "The more we stand the more impacts it makes."

City leaders also attended Sunday's rally and march, expressing their support for the group's mission.

"There are mothers, grandmothers, sisters, brothers that are hurting every time we lose a young person's life," said Lawrence Battiste, the city’s executive director of public safety, "I just really believe as we continue to work together we will continue to do the things we need to do to change the direction and the course of this city as we deal with youth violence in the community."

At the end of the walk Mothers Involved Against Gun Violence also held a memorial powder cannon to honor the lives lost to gun violence.