The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime has done radiothons before, but with the recent spike in Kansas City violent crime, Monday’s event felt more urgent than usual.
"It's a matter of people speaking up. That's first and foremost,” said Damon Daniel, Ad Hoc Group Against Crime president.
"If you care about your community and care about your people then share what you've seen so that we can bring justice to our community,” he said.
With their partner ‘Hot 103 Jamz,’ Daniel’s group spent 12 hours on the radio Monday talking about ways to address violent crime in Kansas City.
According to KCPD, there were 15 shootings this past weekend, eight of them on Sunday. Only 51 percent of homicides so far this year have resulted in charges.
Daniel said he’s found often times there are people with information who are afraid to come forward, fearing retaliation, and that the silence needs to be broken.
"The young folks that are out there have really bought into this narrative of snitches. So what we want to do is help folks understand what the difference is between a snitch and a witness. A snitch is a person that, if you or another person are involved in a crime, and that person gives you up in order to get a lesser sentence, that's a snitch. Anyone else who has information about a crime or a recent violent act, those are witnesses,” he said.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker also attended the radiothon and said the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime has been one of their best partners.
"You can come here, to this place if you feel unsafe, and they will help provide you support and protection. And I will do the same,” said Baker. “I need you to come forward."
Lisa Watson was also at Monday's radiothon. Her 23-year-old niece was murdered November 1, 2015. The case is still unsolved, and Watson fears the worst unless people with information come forward.
"It's not gonna get solved when no one's talking, no one's speaking. And I don't want it to get swept under the rug, she be forgotten,” said Watson.
The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime has a 24-hour community hotline number that can be reached at 816-753-1111. They also provide free grief counseling.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
