NORFOLK, Va. — At the traffic light on East Brambleton Avenue and Tidewater Drive to neighborhoods in the Little Creek area of Norfolk, signs are popping up all around that say, "Holiday Ceasefire, Don't Shoot!" It's part of a bigger effort by the "Guns Down" campaign in the city.
Clay Marquez leads the organization. For years, he's expressed his concern for his community through his campaign efforts to reduce gun violence.
Marquez said he served 10 years in prison on gun-related charges and wanted to change not only his life, but also the lives of others who are impacted by gun violence, whether they are victims or the ones shooting.
"There are no second chances. Once you pull that trigger, that's it," Marquez made clear Sunday afternoon as he stood by the signs in a neighborhood park. "These signs speak for themselves. It's 'Holiday Ceasefire.' It's the time of year that we are seeing, as history as shown, that violence escalates."
Marquez said he wanted to share this message, especially in wake of recent shootings over the weekend. That includes the shooting at the 7-Eleven on West Little Creek Road Friday that killed 33-year-old Antwain D. Curtis, as well as the Sunday morning shooting on Faulk Road that severely hurt two people and injured another.
Marquez was joined by a group of people from the community who have seen how shootings tear families apart first-hand. He said he wanted to get these signs out in the public ahead of the holiday season to remind people that gun violence takes a person away from the Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
"We wanted to just to be a message, a positive message because during this time of the year, we speak to families and families are hurting because they lost loved ones due to the violence. It's the time of the year for closeness, unity, and families coming together and we don't nobody to lose their life," Marquez said. "We know signs alone will not stop the violence, but we try to put them in major intersections, so that people will see it and maybe have a thought...maybe would want to do something different."
One of the people who joined Marquez with the signs in the park is Yolanda Stoner. The signs hold an even deeper purpose for Stoner, as she is still searching for the person who killed her son 23 years ago.
"My son name, Stephon Walton, was 19 and in 2000, he lost his battle to one gunshot wound," Stoner said. "I want to get the message to families out to always keep their eyes open. We still don't have answers in my sons case. And for the people who are doing the shooting, we want them to know what it does to a family."
Stoner not only wants families to keep their children safe, but she said she also wants others to know the damage they cause with one pull of the trigger. She's hoping these simple words will bear a heavier weight on someone's mind to create a change.
"You may not have a consequence that comes from going to jail, but you have to live with what you've done. So, one thing about it, at one point in life, your conscience is going to get you, but always know that God always knows exactly what you did," Stoner said. "Think twice about life, because their life can be changed as well..."
Marquez and his team with "Guns Down" said some of their signs have been moved in Norfolk. They are asking people to let the signs stay where they are to help keep their message alive.
If you'd like to help put more signs up or become a part of the Guns Down campaign, you can call the number (757) 738-8792 or email gunsdownmovementinc@gmail.com.