COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A nonprofit group is teaming up with Columbus police to have an awareness rally for homicide victims, with FBI and elected officials and over 1,000 expected to attend.
Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, a crime prevention nonprofit, is holding the event on Aug. 17. Mothers of Columbus homicide victims will march from the Franklin Court Municipal Court to Columbus City Hall, with photos of their child in hand.
“It is to showcase the victims that have been lost to the violence in the city from years past to current,” said founder Malissa Thomas-St. Clair. “We've got mothers in this march that have lost their children decades ago, and we've got mothers in this march that have lost their children this year.”
Thomas-St. Clair founded the group in December 2020, about seven years after her son was killed in the city. The nonprofit has held a victim awareness rally once before in 2021, but Thomas-St. Clair said this month's event will be much larger.
“It's going to be history-making,” Thomas-St. Clair said. "I think it's going to be powerful.”
The rally also aims to bring attention to Operation Under Triple Digits – an initiative started by the group that is attempting to keep the city's homicide numbers under 100 in 2024 through community outreach. The creation of the concept came after Columbus saw 149 homicides in 2023, marking the third-deadliest year in the city's history.
“We're working very hard with other stakeholders to ensure Columbus does not see more than 100 homicides; I think the last time that that happened was 2015,” Thomas-St. Clair said. “We are at 61 homicides currently. If we can get through these next five months as a city collectively to make different decisions. … I think we can meet that goal.”
An opening prayer will be held at the municipal court at 12:45 p.m., then the march will take place from about 1 to 3 p.m., Thomas-St. Clair said. Those in the march will make several stops, including at the Ohio Statehouse and Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, to partake in demonstrations. After the march, faith leaders will have a pep rally at City Hall from 3 to 4 p.m.
“When we end at City Hall, there's one last demonstration with the mothers and the youth,” Thomas-St. Clair said. “It's going to be powerful. I don't want to give it away, but it's going to be a powerful demonstration.”
Little league football teams, high schools, a funeral home and two horses will walk in the march, along with various other local officials and organizations, Thomas-St. Clair said.
“You'll have the mothers that are going to be marching in formation with CPD executive staff like Chief [Elaine] Bryant, Chief [LaShanna] Potts. Homicide, Major Crimes will be with us, and then behind us will be the fathers and immediate family. Behind them will be faith [leaders].”
To conclude the event, Columbus police is closing down Marconi Boulevard for a block party from 4 to 6 p.m. that will feature bounce houses, food trucks, a DJ, live music and crime prevention resources. Judges, elected officials and organizations such as We Are Linden will be present, along with local officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI. Thomas-St. Clair said the public is encouraged to attend the event.
