About 60 people gathered at the Sunny Isles Amphitheater Thursday to mark the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The annual event, hosted for 14 years by the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix, united law enforcement, prevention leaders, mental health professionals, and grieving families in a call for healing and change.

In one segment of the program, organizers featured “Bulletproof Dreams,” a short film by the Film Over Gun Violence organization, which encourages young people to put down weapons and pursue positive paths. Attendees also reflected at the Wall of Remembrance, a visual display of St. Croix’s murder victims since 1999, updated each year, and shared their experiences during an open mic for survivors.

Although the official National Day of Remembrance is observed nationally on Sept. 25, Thursday’s gathering gave the St. Croix community a chance to honor lost loved ones and strengthen their resolve against violence.

A panel of experts in gun violence, led by the executive director of the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix, Clema Wiliams, answered questions and shared their thoughts on gun violence. Antonio Emanuel, director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, opened the discussion by sharing the personal loss that drives his work. “I took this job out of anger,” Emanuel said. “Two young men that I mentored were killed and losing them at the most critical point in their lives inspired me to do this work as my way of avenging their deaths.”

He explained that his office’s mission extends beyond reactionary measures, providing support to families after tragedies, teaching conflict resolution, working with schools and reentry programs, and partnering with the Police Athletic League. “We try to keep people safe, alive, and free,” Emanuel said. “But we can’t do this ourselves. We need community support.”

Deputy Chief Naomi Joseph, who has decades of experience in law enforcement, spoke candidly about the ongoing pain of unsolved murders. “I’ve had to tell mothers their child is dead. That never gets easier,” Joseph said. “Even if a case is 20 or 40 years old, families are still calling, still asking, ‘Why my child?’ We can’t give them closure without the community’s help.”

She urged residents to break the silence that often shields perpetrators. “A lot of times we know who’s doing it, but people don’t want their family member to go to jail — until it’s your child, your relative. We need you to speak up.”

Adding the mental health perspective, Marcus Moorhead, a licensed professional counselor with Island Therapy Solutions, reminded the audience that trauma ripples through families and communities. “When trauma impacts one person, it’s never just one person – it’s somebody’s son, daughter, cousin,” he said. “Some people feel powerless, but there is power in your voice. Saying, ‘I’m not okay,’ makes people pay attention.”

The most emotional part of the evening came from mothers who have turned their grief into action. Founders of the Dave Edwards Jr. Foundation, created after their loved ones were killed, spoke about their journey. One mother shared through tears how her 15-year-old son was killed in a hail of 52 bullets while playing dominoes.

“We decided we’re not going to die for this anymore,” she said. “We came together to create a community of support, education, and resources.”

The foundation announced its first major event, scheduled for Nov. 16, starting at 10 a.m. at Dorsch Beach and continuing to the Vincent F. Mason Sr. Coral Resort and Park until 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and join the fight to end gun violence.