Third ‘Stop the Violence’ event tapped for Saturday

SIKESTON — On Feb. 19, 2019, Laurie Mitchell found her 24-year-old son, Marcus Dixon Jr., lying at the corner of Branum and William Streets in Sikeston. He had been shot to death.

That corner, Mitchell said, is where her journey to stop the gun violence began.

In July 2019, Mitchell organized and created the first Stop the Violence march in Sikeston. Hundreds of people attended. In 2020, Mitchell again organized an effort to educate and help others understand that gun violence is real.

On Saturday — which would have been her son’s 27th birthday — Mitchell will host the Third Annual Stop The Violence Festival from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the corner of Branum and William Streets.

“This year we’re going to do a bigger march – and got a lot of people involved to stop the violence,” Mitchell said. “… I’m super-excited this year, and the reason I’m super excited is that it falls on Marcus’s birthday.”

This year, Mitchell said, she wants to emphasize the effects of gun violence on families and the community.

“I want everyone to understand how gun violence affects everyone,” Mitchell said. “… I want them to know how my community is feeling and how the families impacted feel.”

When someone is murdered, there are lot of people left behind, she said.

“It’s affecting not only the person’s mom, and you really don’t realize how many people it affects — and it affects everyone in a different kind of way,” Mitchell said.

Saturday’s event will begin with a prayer by Ronald Pulley Sr., pastor of Christ Sanctuary. It will continue with bounce houses, face painting, free food and drinks.

Donations to support next year’s event will also be accepted.

“That’s where it starts — with the children — and if we can reach them, we can make a difference,” she said.

More mothers who’ve lost their children have become involved in Mitchell’s effort. Mitchell said she’s also been contacted by mothers and fathers who’ve lost their children to violence. “So it’s starting to build,” she said.

Mitchell said she thinks these annual events are making a positive impact in the community by making them think before taking action.

“There’s a lot of respect now,” Mitchell said. “I feel like I’ve changed a couple young men and I can see a difference. I’m not going to say that murder has stopped, but I think more are thinking before pulling the trigger.”