WEB: Bobbi pkg Anita Franklin Pkg
Credit: WTVQ Lexington, KY
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Annual peace walk today was held in the honor of it's creator...anita franklin.
She died of a heart attack in february...but as abc 36's bobbi mcswine reports...her mission to end gun violence hasn't lost momentum.
##### singing a crowd of about 200 people came out to duncan park sunday to celebrate anita franklin's pivotal role in the community...and to keep her message alive...stop gun violence.
Christian: "we gotta keep telling the message over and over that we need to eliminate this gun violence.
We need to show love and compassion for eachother and some empathy, but that starts with us, starts with our community."
They walked one mile to spread that message.
There were several community groups there to provide resources...includi ng moms demand action.... 'i'm the mother of jerome jones and he was 25 when he was killed, january 4, 2008."
Reading the names of their loved ones who were killed...and franklin's son read his brother's name...antonio franklin...the catalyst for anita frankin's work.
Antonio was shot in 2014.
Lexington artist and community figure devine carama says franklin inspired his own activism.
"devine carama: i'm standing on her shoulders.
The work she did in the community - i probably wouldn't be doing what i'm doing today if it wasn't for her."
Fayette county sheriff kathy witt also reflected on franklin's work with the sheriff's office...and challenged everyone to follow franklin's lead in stopping gun violence.
"that's what anita was all about, she was about unity."
Franklin's son...ricardo franklin...says he hopes that young people know there are resources...and people who care.
Ricardo: "i know how it feels when you feel like you have nothing, and you feel like you can't go anywhere.
Just keep going.
There's always some green on the other side, you just gotta keep going til you see the light."
A light that's still burning in lexington.
Bobbi mcswine...abc 36 news.