Hundreds of moms sporting orange and holding posters gathered Saturday to join a nationwide fight to end gun violence.

“We shouldn’t have to meet like this, we should be meeting for other reasons,” Gwendolyn Halsey said.

What You Need To Know

  • Hundreds of moms sporting orange and holding posters gathered Saturday in Foley Square to join a nationwide fight to end gun violence

  • Gwendolyn Halsey was one of many mothers that attended who has lost a child due to gun violence. She has five kids and admits all five have been shot by a gun — one fatally

  • After listening to speakers, participants began marching toward the Brooklyn Bridge led by those moms and relatives who've lost loved ones — many holding their photos

  • Organizers with Moms Demand Action say they feel the movement is making progress with states like New York leading the nation

Halsey was one of many mothers in attendance who has lost a child due to gun violence. She has five kids and admits all five have been shot by a gun — one fatally.

“I shouldn’t have to live that life with fear every time my children go out, my grandchildren go out,” Halsey said. “I’m actually scared to the point where I’m questioning everyone like they’re 2-years-old.”

Halsey brought her grandson to the rally with her — it was his father who was killed back in 2018 on Madison Avenue in Brooklyn.

“To show him that we must stick together and we shouldn’t carry weapons,” Halsey said.

“It makes me feel better to know that some people don’t want to do bad stuff,” Jamari Halsey, Gwendolyn’s grandson said.

After listening to speakers in Foley Square, participants began marching toward the Brooklyn Bridge led by those moms and relatives who’ve lost loved ones — many holding their photos.

“This is Justin Tyler Morris he was killed in the Bronx on Christmas Eve 2015,” Siri Morris said.

“The reason why I bring his picture here is because I want people to see cause you know when you come out here as a group if they don’t see the faces or the pain of the survivors they don’t get it,” Marie Delus holding a framed picture of her nephew said.

Organizers with Moms Demand Action say they feel the movement is making progress with states like New York leading the nation. State lawmakers here passed gun safety legislation Thursday and Mayor Adams has appointed a special task force. But they say the pressure needs to be turned up.

“People in cities like New York, St. Louis, Philadelphia suffer the effects of guns violence and we owe them safety and a change from that daily trauma of gun violence,” said Diane Rinaldo, Co-lead of NYC Moms Demand Action.

“I don’t understand why the government can’t do more to stop the gun trafficking from coming in and out because mothers shouldn’t have to bury their children,” Halsey said.