The faces of the homicide victims on the flyer from Compassionate Families send a powerful message.
The oldest is 21, most are under 18. There are babies, toddlers and teenagers.
All except one were killed in the past 17 months.
Those 20 homicide victims will be honored tonight during the 18th annual remembrance ceremony at Unity Plaza at Terry Parker High School, 7301 Parker School Road.
Many of names being honored this year are familiar names because of the headlines surrounding their deaths.
There’s 8-year-old Cherish Lily Perrywinkle, who was abducted from a Walmart and found
dead on the Northside within hours.
There’s Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old who was shot outside a Southside gas station after an argument over loud music.
And there are friends Jazmine Shelton, 13, and Megan Simmons, 14, who died together during a shooting at the mobile home they were at.
But there’s also 3-month-old Ja’Nie Damari Dockery, who died of severe head injuries while with a caregiver. And Jayna P.D. Solomon, 2, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Arrests have been made in all of the cases, except for Jazmine and Megan.
Music begins at 5:30 p.m., with the vigil starting at 6 p.m.
Unity Plaza was dedicated at Terry Parker in October 1996 to honor young people lost to violence.