Vigil honoring victims of violence recognizes improving trends in Racine; 4 homicides in 2024 compared to 13 in 2023
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Organized by the City of Racine's Department of Community Safety, a candlelight vigil was held to honor members of the community impacted by violence on Sunday, Dec. 8.
People close to victims and survivors of violence said prayers, sang songs and held each other as they addressed the issue in their community.
“Those traumas, those pains, those fractures that have happened aren’t exclusive to any particular group. We all share that to some degree," said John Tate II, the director of the Department of Community Safety with the City of Racine. "When we share how we are all connected, we are more successful in how we can work together.”
According to the Racine Police Department, the data regarding violence is improving in the city. The number of homicides, shots fired, and people shot continues to trend down.
"Going into this new year, I’m looking forward to what we can do again," said Isiah Lambart. He works within the Department of Community Safety but has also taken multiple steps to try to reduce violence in his community. He started the Put the Guns Down Basketball Association to encourage young people in southern Wisconsin to turn away from gun violence and participate in positive activities.
“It’s going to take a whole community to heal together," Lambart said.
A couple dozen people attended the vigil on Sunday evening. One of the women who spoke to the crowd was Tanya Wooden. When her son died from gun violence back in 2017, she said she didn't feel like she had the same sense of community she does since the city created a department dedicated to reducing violence in the area.
“For me, it’s been a lot of years, but when my son passed, I didn’t get a sense of community," Wooden said. “Now, these systems are beginning to work with me. I think compassion is so key to finding solution and events like that bring that compassion forth."
At the vigil, city leaders said they hope this event honoring gun violence victims becomes an annual gathering.