A group of metro mothers who tragically lost children to street violence held a kickoff event for their "Stop the Violence" group on Friday.
The event was held at Swope Park and featured speeches from the mothers.
Aishah and Tishah Coppage, who helped organize the event, both lost their sons during a drive-by shooting in August of last year.
Jayden Ugwuh, 9, and Montell Ross, 8, both died in the shooting and were honored on Friday.
"It's been terribly hard and difficult for not only us, but for our other children," explained Montell's mother Aishah Coppage. "We were all at the home when it happened."
Aishah told 41 Action News that it was important to use the heartbreak from the tragedy and put it into action to make a difference in the community.
"Their lives are the reason why we're standing here," she said. "It's showing that we're not scared to stand up for our babies and we're not in hiding."
Tishah Coppage said the pain from the tragedy in August still remains close to her heart.
"Planning a 9-year-old and an 8-year-old funeral is never easy," she explained. "In my eyes, my kids should bury me. I shouldn't have to bury my kids."
On Friday, families came together while children danced and played nearby.
Aishah said seeing the response from the community made the event special.
"Jayden was a crazy dancer, singer, and rapper," she said. "This is something that they would have loved."
Both Aishah and Tishah hoped the event could show families the impact of street violence while also promoting peace.
"Think about your kids, think about your brothers and sisters, your nephews and nieces," Jayden's mother Tishah said. "It's really time to put the guns down."
Moving forward, Aishah explained that the city should focus on coming together to prevent more tragedies.
"We need to push for more unity and push for another way to deal with our issues with each other," she said.
After Friday's kickoff, Aishah said the "Stop the Violence" group planned to hold more community events.
While the heartbreak from her son's death still continues, Tishah hoped to use Jayden's legacy and those of the other children to make a difference.
"I know they're looking down and seeing we don't give up and we're still pushing to stop the violence," she explained. "I know that's making our kids happy at this moment."
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
