JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thousands of victims and survivors of crime will be traveling together for the first ever 'Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington.' Families from Jacksonville will travel to Washington, D.C. for it; they are calling on legislators to improve how crime is addressed, not just incarceration.
The event will be known as the nation's first mobilization of crime survivors.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act, the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act and the 20th anniversary of the Crime Victims Rights Act.
More than 2,000 crime survivors, including some those traveling to the nation's capital from the River City, will push for public safety policies that focus on crime prevention, trauma recovery and rehabilitation.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, there were 82 murders at this time last year in the city (year to date). In comparison, this year, there have been 43 murders, year to date.
Members of Families of Slain Children, a nonprofit organization in Jacksonville, will be traveling with the survivors. They believe the event will provide innovative ways to be proactive to crime in the city. They encourage residents to speak up when they see something wrong happening.
The trip to Washington D.C. starts Sunday night.