Members of a newly formed nonprofit in Winston-Salem gathered together Sunday in response to a wave of shootings in the city. The Women's Gun Violence Prevention Coalition says a grassroots effort can help solve the problem.
Organizers say the rally was a chance to respond to violence with love.
Karen Cuthrell was one of the leaders of the event. She says the community needs more resources, including mental health services, to confront the violence.
“We did a drumbeat today, and everyone counted — drum 1, drum 2, drum 3,” she says. “No one knew what they were doing, they're just following instructions. That was 29 homicides we've had in Winston-Salem this year. It's powerful. Because those are lives that have been lost.”
The surge in gun violence in recent months has led to steps from the police, the school system, and nonprofits like this one in search of solutions.
The incidents have included a fatal shooting at Mount Tabor High School last month and shots fired outside of Parkland High School that did not result in any injuries.
More recently, police say someone fired a weapon during a fight at a football field Saturday. No one was injured.