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As far as Tray Morris is concerned, May 24 does not exist in the calendar year.
Her nephew Fonta Whitlock was killed on that date in 2007, and it changed her life.
She has learned how to cope with the loss of the 23-year-old man she raised as a son, but the fact that his slaying remains unsolved adds to the pain.
Morris looked out Friday on the crowd of more than 100 children, young adults and parents at an anti-violence rally in north Omaha. She said changing the culture of violence would take time.
“If they think guns can solve all their problems,’’ she said, “when they go to their friends’ funerals, I dare them to lay down their guns on the casket.”
Morris and the others gathered at 30th Street and Ames Avenue, one of 10 anti-violence rallies held in the city.
The rallies were co-sponsored by Omaha 360, a violence prevention group, the Empowerment Network and other groups. They were part of Harmony Week, which included various events designed to end gun violence in Omaha.
“I’ve seen too many people my age and younger dying, being robbed, robbing places, being shot,” said Ronnyece Jefferson, 14. “There’s no point in you dying if you’re so young.”
There have been 16 homicides in Omaha this year. The latest was Sunday, when former gang member Robert Somerville, 31, who had spoken out against violence, was shot.
James Cannon, 23, and Karl White, 24, hoisted signs about ending violence near 24th and Lake Streets. They had been walking to get dinner when they noticed a group of about 20 teenage girls holding signs and getting honks and waves from passers-by.
“It’s crazy that there’s no (other) young men out here,” Cannon said. “All they see is street life. They need to see men out here in the community trying to be men of the community.”
White said it’s easy to blame others for violence, but a different state of mind could help change the culture.
“To solve it, it’s all attitude,” he said, adding, “A lot of people don’t think things through, or they follow a stereotype ... But just think. You can solve a lot of stuff by thinking.”
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444-1304, news@owh.com
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