LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sunday is the start of National Crime Victim's rights week, and this afternoon in Little Rock the organization Parents of Murdered Children along with CVAAA held a memorial service for family and friends of homicide victims.
"During the opening ceremony, this is an opportunity for a number of organizations to come together and to celebrate crime survivors and crime victims at the end of the day, we're still standing," Wyndolyn Smith Adams said.
Adams, the chapter leader for Parents of Murdered Children, said that Sunday's event is also a call to action for community members and leaders to join forces to solve this ongoing crisis of crime.
"We're looking to also acknowledge those that support us during this time, law professionals, law enforcement, medical professionals, volunteers, and just other family and friends in the community," Adams said "So, when a survivor comes to you, and is ready to share their story, are you ready to receive them? Are you ready to give them hope? Are you ready to create a safe environment for them to share their story and that's what this week is all about."
Adams knows firsthand of how hard this process can be -- her son Trevarland Smith was murdered in 2018.
"That's why I'm here today. Parents of Murdered Children has been an amazing help an amazing support for me and for my family, and to many other families that are going through the same experience," she said.
Lakesia Smith is also a part of the Parents of Murdered Children where she too has lost a loved one.
"My baby Shoncoven Smith was killed January 25th, 2014, and he leaves behind four kids, the grief, it lasts forever don't let anybody tell you oh you get over it, you don't, you get through it, but you don't get over it," Smith said.
Now, Smith channels all of that hurt into advocating for change when it comes to violent crimes such as this one.
"I talked to the mayor, I talked to the city board, I talked to the community I talked to anybody who want to listen, I talked to police, to see what we can do different with our youth, and our young people because they need a lot of help right now," Smith said.
Adams stated that Parents of Murdered Children will continue to be a resource for the community and advocate to changing the way people view life as no one should have to experience what she does every day.
"We just want to, again, encourage our law enforcement in our communities to rally around our children to give them an outlet so that you know they have a means of not feeling like they the answer is picking up a gun and shooting an individual and taken alive and impacting again, the health of the community," Adams said.
The next event coming up this week is Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
The event is the Arkansas Recognition and Victims' Rights Ceremony and will be held at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce located on 100 Main St. in North Little Rock.
This event is held in communities across the country to promote victims’ rights, honor crime victims and recognize those who advocate on their behalf.