Tonight, I attended the National Gun Violence Awareness Day Vigil with my Sister, who flew into Columbus from Atlanta. Cindy came not only as a source of support but also to participate in the upcoming #WearOrange events. Wear Orange events are nationwide initiatives to raise awareness about gun violence, honor survivors, and demand action to prevent it.
Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children were asked to bring pictures of their “angels,” the children they lost to gun violence, to place on the VIP table. As I positioned John’s picture on the table, tears began to well up in my eyes. I still can’t believe that his face is now among many others who are no longer with us.
Before entering the room for the vigil, we wrote the names of our loved ones on white bags. Volunteers placed a flameless candle inside each bag, which would light up at the end of the ceremony in remembrance of the lives lost.
The Vigil
The vigil aimed to raise awareness of gun violence. It honored and remembered those who lost their lives, while also highlighting the efforts that people are making to prevent it.
I found inspiration in all the vigil speakers, including police officers and elected officials working to reduce gun violence in Columbus. I felt a strong connection to Sasha Bannister, a young mother who shared the painful experience of losing her 15-year-old son, Devon Bannister. In 2022, a young man, carrying a gun, shot and killed Devon.
Hearing this mother speak filled me with a strong wave of emotion, and I couldn’t help but cry. I felt every bit of her pain as she expressed her feelings to the audience. Her words transported me back to that dreadful moment when I learned the tragic news that someone had shot and killed John.
I was deeply moved by her entire speech, especially when she said, “People say time heals all wounds, but that’s not really true. Time just teaches you how to carry the pain differently. Some days, I carry it with tears; other times, I carry it with anger. And on days like this, I carry it with purpose.”
The evening concluded with a photo session. Malissa Thomas St. Clair, founder of MOMCC, always captures a group photo of mothers holding pictures of our Angels. She also snapped many individual photos with Vigil attendees to share on the organization’s social media pages.
This vigil was a deeply emotional experience for me. I found myself crying throughout as we honored our loved ones lost to gun violence. As I exited the building, I saw City Hall illuminated in orange in their memory, which made me cry even more.
When I look at John’s bags glowing with love, I remember the vigil organizer’s statement: “Every lost life represents a story that ended too soon.”
Since I attended the Bereaved Mothers’ Day Brunch several weeks ago, I’ve been quite busy. I still break down and cry more often than not, but the past several weeks have been better. I’m still learning how to navigate my life without John.
I believe that God has a way of preparing some people for what’s to come without them even realizing it. I mention this because the year before his murder, John seemed to distance himself from us—not due to any disagreements or issues, but because he wanted to prove to himself that he could make it on his own. As a result, his visits and phone calls became less frequent. I didn’t crowd him because I knew he wanted his space to spread his wings.
As I began to adjust to his absence, I found some comfort in knowing that he was always only a phone call or text away if I wanted to check on him or hear his voice. Unfortunately, I can no longer reach out to him because he is gone for good.
Promises, Promises
I am determined to honor the promises I made to John, keeping them at the forefront of my mind. In addition to becoming a member of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, I have also joined “Moms Demand Action.”
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots organization that advocates for public safety measures to prevent gun violence. The organization works towards stronger gun laws and aims to close loopholes that could compromise safety.
I joined this organization just in time for “Wear Orange Weekend,” which will take place this year from June 6 to 8. This weekend, we will honor the survivors of gun violence, remember those whose lives were senselessly taken, and stand together in solidarity against this preventable crisis.
I get emotional just thinking about this weekend.
Why We Wear Orange?
The following is a post on the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Facebook page explaining why we wear orange.
On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from the South Side of Chicago, marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. She was only 15 years old.
Soon after Hadiya’s death, her friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves. In June 2015, a broad coalition asked people nationwide to join what Hadiya’s friends started for the first annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This year, we #WearOrange again to call attention to our nation’s gun violence crisis and honor victims and survivors of gun violence.
Today, Hadiya should have turned 28. We honor her and all whose lives have been taken or forever changed by gun violence. Wear orange and share your picture on social media with the #WearOrange hashtag on June 6, National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Then, on June 6-8, join a Wear Orange Weekend event.
This is 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton. Her senseless death inspired the Wear Orange campaign to bring awareness to our nation’s preventable gun violence crisis.
Wear Orange Weekend
As mentioned earlier, I will be participating in several Wear Orange activities from June 6-8, including the “Walk For Peace” on June 7th.
My Wear Orange package arrived just in time, and I’m ready! John’s presence will be acknowledged in a meaningful way. Every family member who joins me will proudly wear a button featuring John’s image over their hearts. I will also wear John’s favorite hat, keeping a physical piece of him with me whenever I participate in MOMCC and Moms Demand Action events, especially during this Walk for Peace.
It’s the week after Mother’s Day, and I’m still standing. I feel broken-hearted and sad, but I remain hopeful for the future that God has planned for me.
The future is bright if I continue to embrace positivity. Of course, the loss of my dear John will always be a part of my life—day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. I smile through the tears as much as I can, but I also allow myself to be honest about my feelings. There will always be challenging days because a huge part of my life and heart is missing, but I refuse to let it destroy me.
That’s why I continue to push myself to stay active and remain connected with a supportive group of women who understand my pain: Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children.
Today, along with many of my fellow Sister Soldiers, I attended a Mother’s Day brunch called “Love Beyond Loss.” This event was specifically for mothers who have lost a child to violence, and it was beautifully organized by the Columbus CARE Coalition.
We enjoyed delicious food, shared fellowship, and created Love Bouquets/Letters to the children we’ve lost to violence.
Mother’s Day was arduous, but today was a soothing balm for my soul. It felt like a day of hope.
On May 15, 2025, Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, in partnership with the Columbus Division of Police, hosted their #UnderTripleDigits2025 Quarter 1 Safety Review and Strategic Data Meeting. This meeting was truly cathartic, and I feel so blessed to have attended.
Many incredible people gathered for one purpose: to stop the violence in Columbus, Ohio. This was the first meeting to contain so many organizations at once. Among those in attendance were elected officials, faith leaders, law enforcement representatives, leaders from global, federal, state, county, city, and nonprofit organizations.
The meeting began with delicious food and a presentation of current crime statistics. Scott Gibson provided an update on the year-to-date homicide numbers and community reports.
After the introduction and group hands-on Crime Analysis Activities, the presentations began.
Those in attendance shared stories that moved me to tears, stories of how crime deeply affected their lives.
My first emotional moment came when Mike St. Clair, the husband of MOMCC founder Malissa St. Clair, spoke about the barriers that young adults aged 17 to 25 face in our city. He recounted the graduation challenges his son, Anthony, faced in the Columbus Public School system before someone murdered him in 2013. At that time, the state required all Ohio students to pass the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) to graduate. Students must pass all five sections: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies to receive a high school diploma.
Anthony passed all sections except for science. Despite taking the test a total of seven times, he fell just two points short of passing the science portion. Consequently, he was unable to graduate with his class, which significantly altered the course of his life. He was on track to secure a football scholarship for college. Although he eventually obtained his high school diploma, by that time, the college offer had already been rescinded.
Mike often reflects on whether his son would still be alive today if he had been able to go to college and pursue a different path.
The second wave of tears began when the Domestic Violence Unit spoke. Diana Williams, the founder of Ohio Women Against Domestic Violence, shared her personal experience with domestic violence and how she overcame it. Ronnette Hairston, the Director of the Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, is also a domestic violence survivor. She recounted how she left her abuser with her four children because she could no longer endure the situation. Ronnette made a promise to her son, who was murdered in 2021, that she would do something meaningful in his memory. She advocates for women experiencing domestic abuse through her work with Ohio Women Against Domestic Violence.
Another MOMCC member, Sonya Edgington Chapel, spoke about her daughter India, who was murdered as a result of domestic abuse. Each year, they honor her memory with India’s Purple Ribbon Walk, which takes place in May.
These women are true warriors. I support them wholeheartedly and salute their courage.
The final round of tears occurred at the end of the meeting, where MOMCC celebrated the CPD Major Crime Bureau.
Thankfully, in my case, authorities arrested Miller the Killer just hours after he murdered my son, John. I don’t know the pain of having my child’s killer roam free, but I certainly understand the anguish of such a devastating loss.
Members of MOMCC expressed their gratitude and recognized the hard work of the detectives and police officers. We presented tokens of appreciation, commemorative coins, and medals to those who dedicated themselves to solving homicide cases. Many tears were shed when we witnessed several of my fellow Sister Soldiers personally thanking the detectives who persevered and ultimately brought justice to their families.
It was a beautiful sight to see!
Time flew by so quickly, and before I knew it, the meeting was over. I felt honored to be a part of it. It was wonderful to witness such unity coming together to reduce crime and make our city safer. I am doing my best to honor my son. His death will not be in vain. I am determined to make this community a better place in his name.
I have so many emotions swirling through my body, twisting and turning my heart and mind.
Overwhelming sadness.
An unending flow of tears has continued since I woke up this morning, and they won’t stop no matter how hard I try.
Once again, John’s absence shatters my heart into a million pieces.
How do I get through it?
Everywhere I look, I think of him. As I walk down the hall toward John’s bedroom, I stop at the door. A smile spreads across my face when I see the remnants of the peel-and-stick letters that spell out his name. I recall how excited he was when we placed his name on the door as a child and how irritated he became as a teenager when the name remained visible despite our many efforts to remove it.
“Mom, can you please get something to remove my name entirely?” Can Dad paint over it? He would complain, “It’s embarrassing.”
“I’ll have him do it, John,” I would reply, but he never seemed to find the time.
Now, I’m glad he didn’t.
It’s a piece of John that will remain with me forever.
Closing my eyes, I lean my head on the door and imagine him on the other side—lying in his red race car bed when he was five, playing on the floor surrounded by his army men, sleeping soundly on the top bunk when he was ten, cleaning the aquarium of his pet snake “Curly” and giggling with his little sister as they made up funny songs to sing.,,”We loooove music…We loooove music…”
I think of him growing into a tall, handsome teenager with a cell phone constantly in his hand, his first girlfriend, and playing video games for hours on end.
As an adult, he often returned to this room seeking refuge while trying to navigate the challenges of life. For many years, this space became a revolving door for John. Ultimately, we wanted him to learn how to stand on his own. He was finally on that path when his life was tragically cut short—a wonderful soul gunned down by a coward because of a stupid argument.
I open my tear-stained eyes and look at the faded letters on John’s door, which serve as a powerful reminder of his absence from this world. It’s a constant, somber reminder of his departure—a tangible symbol of his absence that resonates deeply in my heart.
I was scrolling through my Facebook page today and saw the following post on my timeline from Paula Hill, founder of Austin’s Sunshine Foundation.
Needless to say, it took me by surprise.
The post said “Happy Bereaved Mother’s Day”
After seeing this, I thought two things: First, I had no clue this day existed and second, this is an oxymoron.
I am a grieving mother. The word “Happy” before “Bereaved” made no sense.
Bereavement is not happiness.
I wanted to know more about this day, so I researched online and found that Bereaved Mother’s Day is observed on the first Sunday in May.
That’s interesting. Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday in May.
I continued to read :
“Bereaved Mother’s Day honors Mothers who have lost a child. It is intended to provide a space for grieving mothers to express their loss in any way they may need. This day can be a celebration of mothers as well as a remembrance of loss“
After completing this, I thought, “Okay, it’s starting to make more sense, and it’s a good idea to mark this day on the Sunday before Mother’s Day.”
I returned to Paula’s post and continued from where I had left off. Paula was a guest speaker in an online Grief 2 Hope session I attended a few weeks ago. Her son, Austin, died in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early twenties. His death inspired her to create a non-profit charity, Austin’s Sunshine Foundation, in his honor.
The more I read, the more I understood why I should be “happy’ for this special day.
Bereaved Mother’s Day: A Love That Time Cannot Dim
To every mother who carries the weight of love with empty arms—this day is for you.
Bereaved Mother’s Day, observed the Sunday before Mother’s Day, is a sacred space to honor the mothers whose children live in Heaven, not in their homes. It is a day born not out of celebration, but remembrance. Out of pain but also enduring love. It is a day that quietly whispers, you are still a mother—and always will be.
There is no word powerful enough to describe a mother who has lost her child. No language that fully captures the ache, the resilience, or the sacred bond that death cannot sever. Your love did not end the day your child left this earth. In many ways, it deepened, growing roots in places invisible to the eye—etched into your very soul.
You are not forgotten.
You are not invisible.
You are not alone.
While the world may hurry past your grief, you remain steadfast in your love. The way you speak their name. The way you remember their birthday. The way your eyes still search the sky, catching glimpses of them in sunsets, feathers, butterflies, or songs that suddenly play when you need them most.
That is motherhood, too.
There is immeasurable strength in simply waking up each day and carrying this love forward. There is grace in allowing yourself to grieve, to cry, to laugh again. And there is sacred beauty in the way you still parent from afar—honoring their memory, telling their story, and living a life that speaks their name.
To the mother who feels forgotten: You are remembered.
To the mother who feels broken: You are still whole in the eyes of love.
To the mother who wonders if she counts today: You do. More than words could ever say.
This day is for you.
We see your heart.
We speak your child’s name with you.
We honor the love that lives on.
From one grieving mother to another, I want you to know—you are so deeply loved. Your child mattered. Your grief matters. You matter.
May today bring you a moment of peace, a breath of gentleness, and the reminder that even in the darkest silence, your love echoes forever.
You will always be their mother.
The Lightbulb Moment
Paula’s heartfelt post gave me a new perspective, and now everything makes perfect sense. Tears were streaming down my face.
Bereaved Mother’s Day is a special day for mothers like me to pause, cherish the wonderful memories of being John’s mother, and to honor him.
Although John is no longer here, I am grateful for the gift of motherhood and the happiness it has brought into my life.
Thank you, son.
Now that I fully understand, I can lovingly say:
Happy Bereaved Mother’s Day to all mothers whose children have gone before them and are now in Heaven.
This post will contain a little bit of this and a whole lot of that.
It reflects my state of mind right now. I want to be honest as I document my journey, not only for those reading my blog, but also for myself.
I still feel so tired in every sense of the word: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Tired.
Not only is my heart aching on the nine-month anniversary of John’s murder, but my body continues to ache, too. Along with my usual ailments, Myasthenia Gravis and Fibromyalgia, for the first time, plantar fasciitis reared its ugly head a few months after John’s passing, and today, sciatica has me in tears.
I need to lose weight, but it’s so hard to do when you can barely move! Also, my mind just can’t stay focused on eating as healthy as I should. Hopefully, that will change soon. I know this body is God’s temple, and I should treat it as such, but when you’re dealing with the murder of your child, it’s been challenging to stick to what I know is best for me.
Financial problems continue to suffocate us. I had a few disagreements with my husband and daughter, which made me scream. I’m sick of people telling me what I should do, what I shouldn’t do, what I’m doing wrong, and what I should do better.
Newsflash, I’m a grown woman turning sixty years old in six months, I don’t need to be lectured to or treated like a child. I’m also learning to live again after someone murdered my only son!
In the words of Michael Jackson, “Leave me alone.”
All of this is happening on and around the ninth month of John’s passing. My mind and heart can’t take any more.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the death of a child is the most agonizing experience a mother can endure. I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy. Losing your child to murder is an even greater devastation. The tears never seem to stop flowing.
I still receive hearing notices in the mail, which takes me back to the horrific morning when that devastating news of my son’s death was delivered by the detective. Along with immense sadness, these pieces of paper bring intense anger. It’s not just the fact that John died, it’s HOW he died. One senseless act of stupidity changed the trajectory of so many lives and, most importantly, cut the life short of someone who didn’t deserve to die!
Miller the Killer shouldn’t have been anywhere near that house.
IF HE WASN’T THERE, JOHN WOULD STILL BE HERE!
Nine Month Anniversary
This brings me to today.
Today marks nine months without you, son, and I still can’t believe you’re gone.
I sound like a broken record, but my heart continues to shatter. I know you’re in a better place, but I’m still being selfish. I’d rather have you here with me.
My Precious Pot
My fellow Sister Soldiers and I painted flowerpots to honor our Angels in the last MOMCC Sister Circle. I may not be as artistic as my husband or daughter, but I did my best. Putting your heart and soul into something can be more beautiful than the actual piece of art. I did that with this memorial pot, and I hope you like it, son.
The front of the flower pot contains the words “Sow Love…” This phrase means to intentionally act in ways that demonstrate love, generosity, and kindness, with the expectation that those actions will lead to a positive outcome or harvest of love in return.
Sowing love is something I truly believe in. I aspire to do it again consistently, when I can finally release all this anger from my heart. As Galatians 6:7 instructs, “A man reaps what he sows.”
It’s important to sow love.
John, you weren’t the most emotional person or one to verbally express your love very often, but you had the kindest heart and soul. As you matured, at the end of our conversations, you would say, “I love you, Momma.” It always made me feel so good because I knew you were a man of few words.
I planted special flowers inside my memorial pot for you. These flowers have a special story, which I explained in this Easter Blog Post Happy Heavenly Easter John
This precious pot sits on the plant stand in my kitchen, which contains three other plants that were delivered to me two days after you were murdered. Lord knows, I don’t have a green thumb like my mother. I honestly think she ‘s helping me keep these plants alive, especially for you.
May these special daisies continue to bring sunshine into my life, especially on the darkest days.
Being the mother of a murdered child has changed so many things in my life. In a previous post, Changes, I wrote about what I no longer do since the loss of my son. This time I’m writing about something I now do, which I never used to.
Before John was killed, I never paid much attention to news stories about the murders in my city. Not because I didn’t care, but because I cared too much. News like this always made me cry, so to avoid the tears, I would avoid watching the news. Sometimes, I would change the channel and come back once the sad stories were over.
After John’s death, I not only focus on these stories but pay close attention to them. I document important facts about each murder, including the time it occurred, the location, the name of each victim, and the circumstances surrounding their death. When someone murders your child, it changes you.
So, when I heard the homicide rate in Columbus is at its lowest in over a decade, my heart smiled.
After smiling, both inside and out, I thought, “Operation Under Triple Digits is beginning to pick up steam.
Operation Under Triple Digits is a city-wide initiative in Columbus, Ohio, aimed at reducing homicides and making the city safer. The goal is to keep the number of homicides below 100 annually. This initiative officially launched February 2024. It is led by Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, which involves community organizations, residents, faith-based groups, elected officials, and law enforcement.
Everyone has worked hard to lower the deadly violence, and that work has paid off. So far this year, there have been 16 homicides in Columbus. There were 24 at this time last year, and in 2021, there were 65 on this date.
While the year is far from over, local media in Columbus understands the importance of acknowledging this success 10TV.COM NEWS ARTICLE
Columbus Police Assistant Chief Greg Bodkeer believes it’s a combination of factors that have caused the decrease in violence. Community members are getting involved. Residents are reporting incidents. Mothers of Columbus Murdered Children are organizing initiatives such as “Silence the Violence Mall Walks,” and Community Coverings. Bodkeer has also met with domestic violence awareness groups.
The Results
Our community is getting safer, and a safer community means fewer homicides.
Fewer homicides mean fewer mothers are becoming part of the unfortunate sisterhood Mothers Of Murdered Columbus Children.
Malissa Thomas-St.Clair, founder of Mothers Of Murdered Columbus Children, began working with the Columbus Division of Police four years ago when the city set a homicide record for the second year in a row.
“To see that four years later we have deepened our relationship, it is a true testament to how, when you partner with your local law enforcement with an authentic relationship to bridge the gap to reduce crime, it works,” said Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children founder Malissa Thomas-St. Clair” (10TV interview)
It’s working Columbus! Let’s continue to keep those homicides down!
MOMCC Leadership Team with Columbus Division of Police 1st Assistant LaShanna Potts (Photo Credit MOMCC Public Facebook Page)MOMCC Leadership Team with Columbus Police Department (Photo Credit MOMCC Public Facebook Page)
The Promise
Hearing this news brought what I said to John, as I stood before his casket, to the forefront of my mind. I promised him, his death would not be in vain. When I made that promise, I had no idea how I was going to fulfill it, but God did.
Nine months later, I’m part of the MOMCC movement, which is helping to reduce violence in my city. The same violence that took away my son. Unspeakable violence that has changed my life, and the lives of my fellow Sister Soldiers, forever.
This is a turning point in my city.
I know I’m at the beginning of this journey and there’s still so much work to do. But, it’s my mission to preserve John’s legacy with every ounce of my being and it will be done.
Every survivor of crime has the right to heal. This not only means the victim but also the family of a victim killed by violence.
I previously posted about The Victims Compensation Fund” on October 2, 2024, and explained my confusion about filing a claim. Because of this, I contacted an attorney for assistance and began the process. Several months later, I received a portion of the reimbursement for the funeral expenses incurred due to John’s murder. However, I’m still awaiting a final decision on other items, including his grave marker. It’s been eight months since his murder. I hope I receive a decision with payment soon. My son deserves a marker on his grave.
While I’m grateful for Ohio Victims Compensation, it would have been nice to have had immediate access to the funds to help pay for John’s funeral beforehand instead of requesting reimbursement after the fact. Because he didn’t carry life insurance, I had to set up a GoFundMe campaign, which caused more stress during an already stressful time.
On April 9th, I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline. I saw a post about a webinar, ‘Right To Heal: Expanding Access to Victims Compensation, taking place on April 10th. I immediately registered to attend because I still have many questions about the victim compensation program. The Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) hosted the webinar. CSSJ is a national network of crime survivors joining together to create healing communities and shape public safety policy.
April 10, 2025
The ‘Right to Heal” webinar was led by Aswad Thomas, National Director of, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ).
Thomas began by stating : “Every survivor regardless of background, where they live, or circumstances of their experience deserves the right to heal. But for too many survivors, that right is often denied due to barriers that exist in our state’s compensation programs.”
Because of this, survivors can feel retraumatized by the entire victim’s compensation process which should never happen.
To bring about change, he explained, CSSJ has created the ‘Right to Heal’ campaign, which will:
Raise awareness of the challenges victims face with the Victims Compensation Fund.
Advocate for more policy changes.
Shift the way we think about healing.
Ensure that someone sees, supports, and hears the survivors.
When Survivors Speak: Change Happens
The webinar consisted of a panel of victims who have turned their pain into purpose. and a dedicated faith leader fighting for crime victims. These panelists fueled their actions not only by the loss of their loved ones due to violence but also by the denial of access to the support and services crime victims deserve.
Hearing their stories proves that when survivors speak, change happens.
Right To Heal – Panelists
Jill Henderson – Texas
In 2007, someone killed Jill’s oldest son, Darian, in Dallas, Texas. Ten years later, a group of individuals in Greece beat her youngest son, Bakari, to death.
The murder of Bakari led Jill to create The Bakari Foundation. After struggling to get the Texas Crime Victims Compensation Program to process her claim, Jill was very instrumental in getting Senate Bill 49 to pass in Texas.
Senate Bill 49 in Texas, signed into law by Governor Abbott, expands eligibility for the Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program and increases support for survivors. Specifically, it covers relocation costs for all survivors, increases the amount of support that a survivor can receive, and extends eligibility to household members of victims. Lawmakers passed the bill with bipartisan support, and it aims to improve support for crime victims and address the cycles of trauma.
Dion Green – Ohio
Dion’s father, Derrick Fudge, died in his arms as a result of the 2019 Oregon District of Dayton, Ohio mass shooting.
Many of the Oregon District survivors were denied aid by the Victims Compensation Program, including Fudge’s family. The program declined to help Fudge’s family with funeral expenses because of a 2011 felony conviction.
Instead of complaining, Dion took action and played a pivotal role in passing Ohio Senate Bill 36 by speaking to the Senate Judiciary Committee. He told them that he was denied help burying his father because Fudge had a 2011 felony drug conviction. Program rules deny aid to anyone with a felony conviction in the previous 10 years.
Another Oregon District survivor was denied help because she had drugs in her system when she was taken to the hospital to treat a gunshot wound; she says it was prescription Adderall.
Ohio Senate Bill 36 revises the criteria for crime victim reparations. Specifically, it expands eligibility for compensation to more crime victims and their families while also removing certain restrictions.
SB 36 would allow victims with years-old convictions unrelated to the incident they were a victim of to get aid; allow victims to get aid if they had controlled substances in their system; and expand eligibility for assistance to family members and caretakers of victims.
Mia Arrendondo – California
Mia Arrendondo is a Chapter Coordinator of the Crime Victim Advisory Board of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in California.
After gang violence took the life of her older brother, she had firsthand experience with the stigmas associated with the way he lost his life. Mia soon found that Latino survivors and victims are having barriers to the Victims Compensation Fund due to stigmas. People assumed that they did not qualify because they were in gangs, on parole, or undocumented. Whether that was true or not, the crime committed against their loved one still makes the family a victim, and they deserve assistance and help. Mothers, fathers, siblings, and other family members still endure the trauma and pain from the loss of their loved ones.
As a result of this unfair treatment, Mia tirelessly advocates for victims and their families to push through significant policy changes for victim compensation. She believes The Victims Compensation Fund should help ALL victims, regardless of the circumstances.
Rafia Muhammad-McCormick – Tennessee
Muhammah-McCormick lost her son Rodney Armstrong when a friend shot him after an argument at a pool party in 2020.
On March 13, 2024, she and a group of mothers from the organization MOM, called a press conference to discuss the frustration of not only losing a child to gun violence but the limited support from the state and authorities afterward.
Because they spoke out, they were able to make it easier for victims of violent crimes and their families to get money from the state with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act by the passage of HB1021/SB1416.
Expands what situations families of victims are in and can qualify to get money
Gives them 15 days to file a police report after the crime occurs compared to 48 hours
Allows more family members to receive compensation
Muhammad-McCormick also created the Healed People Heal People Campaign, which educates victims of violence about the new law expanding eligibility to the Tennessee Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.
Healed People Heal People listens to those most impacted by violence about what they need to heal.
Muaath Al-Khattab, a community organizer with the Montgomery chapter for Faith in Action Alabama, is on the front lines fighting for reforms in the Victims Compensation Program in his state.
Among the challenges victims face were:
The application was fourteen pages long and must be mailed or dropped off at the Commission.
Victims were being denied with no explanation.
Applications were in the processing stage for over a year.
Applications were approved for a zero-dollar amount.
Frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the Victims Compensation Commission, Al-Khattab decided to act. On February 24, 2023, he led a group of protestors to the Alabama Compensation Commission. The group went to Montgomery to protest delays in processing their claims and complain about the lack of communication between themselves and agency staff.
A list of demands was read to the interim Executive director which included:
Transparency
Accountability
Timely responses
Clear explanation of decisions made on claims
The commission gave various reasons for the backlog and delays, including staff shortage and lack of funding. As a result, the commission was given 2.5 million dollars to hire more employees, which reduced the backlog of claims from 2000 to under 500. The application was reduced from fourteen pages to four and is now available online, which is extremely helpful for victims of crime, especially those mourning the loss of a loved one.
Al-Khattab stated, “The powers within the survivors by collectively gathering together and putting a spotlight on their testimonies produced results”
When Survivors speak, change happens.
A multitude of victims make their way to the lobby of the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission on Feb. 24, 2023. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)
Inspiration
After hearing the stories of those on the panel and learning more about CSSJ’s mission, I decided to sign up and join the CSSJ movement.
Too many victims are being denied the help they need and deserve. I want to do what I can to change that in Ohio. Maybe helping others and getting involved will help me as I mourn the loss of my son.
That’s to be determined as my journey branches out into the unknown.
What I do know is that this is another step in fulfilling my promise to John.
The National Goal for the CSSJ Right To Heal campaign is to reach 200,000 survivors.
If you are a crime victim or a victim’s survivor, please click the link below and take this short survey.
