"Moms" hope to end GR street violence

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - There's a group of moms that have a strong message to think twice before committing street violence.

The group called "Mom" or "Mothers on a Mission" all lost their sons to street violence and they want the world to know they're devastation isn't going away.

"My son was killed inside of my home. He was laying in the living room when I came downstairs...that should never happen to anyone," said Jerline Riley, part of Mothers on a Mission.

Riley, along with nine other mothers, gathered on the corner of Eastern and Sherman in Grand Rapids on Friday to hopefully etch an image in the minds of all who see them. They want everyone to see that their lives have been changed forever.

They stood next to pictures of their sons, all young men lost to senseless brutality on the streets.

"If we could impact one young man today, and maybe he can tell somebody else and he could impact one, then we can start a different legacy in our community than this is probably where you'll end up at," said Riley.

The also wore green scarves--symbolic of their determination and dedication to their mission--scarves they hope other mothers will wear to spread the message in their neighborhoods.

The "moms" are hoping to force young people to think about the consequences and the heartache caused by picking up a gun and pulling the trigger.

"They should not think that when somebody dies it's over because it's never over for the family that's left living," said Riley.

Mothers on a Mission hopes to assemble an army of moms to take to the streets at multiple locations for different events.

For more information about Mothers on a Mission, contact Ralph Mason at 260-7352.