VIOLENCE CALLED ON THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA TO DO MORE.
EVEN THOUGH HOMICIDES ARE DOWN,
YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
NBC10’S BRIAN SHEEHAN EXPLAINS.
>> WHEN SURVIVORS SPEAK, CHANGE
HAPPENS.
>> Reporter:@# SURVIVORS OF
PHILADELPHIA GUN VIOLENCE ARE
MAKING SURE THEIR VOICES ARE
HEARD AS THEY TURN THEIR PAIN
INTO POWER. >> WHEN YOU TALK TO CRIME
VICTIMS, THE THINGS WE HAD
HAPPENED TO US, WE DON’T WANT
IT TO HAPPENS AGAIN OR TO @#
HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.
>> Reporter: A ROOMFUL OF
SURVIVORS GATHERED TODAY IN NEW
JERSEY TO SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCES AND CALL FOR
CHANGE.
>> I WANT US TO SUPPORT EACH
OTHER.
>> Reporter: AS FOR THOMAS, THE
NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY LEADER
WITH THE GROUP, CRIME SURVIVORS
JUSTICE,@# GOING AROUND THE
COUNTRY SPEAKING WITH THOSE
AFFECTED BY CRIME FIRSTHAND.
>> WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR
THINGS LIKE TRAUMA RECOVERY
CENTERS ACROSS PHILADELPHIA AND
ACROSS THE STATE TO ACTUALLY BE
ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO
EXPERIENCE CRIME AND VIOLENCE
TO GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
OVERCOME IT.
>> Reporter: THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA SAW A 37% DROP IN
HOMICIDES COMPARED TO THIS TIME
LAST YEAR.@#
ALSO, 430 FEWER SHOOTINGS AS OF
JULY 3rd.
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST SITTING
DATA.
THEY SAID THAT PROGRESS DOESN’T
MATTER TO VICTIMS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> PEOPLE FEEL LEFT ALONE AND NOBODY REALLY CARES, AND WE
WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE DO.@#
>> Reporter: IS SURVIVAL OF
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
LOST HER SISTER TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND HER SON WAS
RECENTLY SHOT AND KILLED BY
POLICE IN OHIO WHILE SUFFERING
A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
>> IT IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT ALL THE STUFF THAT I HAVE
BEEN THROUGH ISN’T IN VAIN, AND
SO THAT I CAN HELP SOMEBODY
ELSE GET THROUGH,@# SO THAT THEY
CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, I GOT
THROUGH IT, TOGETHER, WE CAN
GET THROUGH THIS, TOO.
>> Reporter: THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT CHANGE DID NOT END TODAY.
SURVIVORS FROM THE AREA WILL
JOIN THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FROM
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT A FIRST
OF ITS KIND RALLY IN OUR