TOLEDO, Ohio — It's the third year Citizens Response Against Youth Violence, or C.R.A.Y.V., is hosting its Stop the Gun Violence Bike Ride.
The ride will have two and three-wheeled motor vehicles of all types participating to honor lives lost to gun violence.
City of Toledo officials recently pushed out mid-year crime statistics in July and it found from 2023 to 2024, the number of people shot and the number of homicides have gone up slightly. Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle has attributed that to several double homicides and two incidents involving police officers shooting and killing suspects.
The chief said the department's focus on curfew enforcement has led to a decrease in the city's amount of youth violence. But C.R.A.Y.V. founder Rochelle Russell said they want it gone. The group believes their initiatives over the last few years have helped in making this dent in the violence as well.
"I'm tired of putting faces on t-shirts. I'm tired of it," Russell said. "It was important to do this and let people know we are here. We can create change if we all work together, understand and realize the problem."
Local artist and community advocate Jodie Summers is a C.R.A.Y.V. member and treasurer and will be performing at the event, which takes place after the bike ride. He said he's happy to continue hosting this event to unite the community.
"Every year that we keep coming back is just another proof that it can be done," Summers said.
The event starts at Sleepy Hollow Park on Saturday, Sept. 14 at noon with the bike ride. Ride leader Roderick "Lyte-N-Rod" King said as an owner of multiple businesses within Toledo, he knows that he must take part in events like these.
"Our businesses are in our community and this is affecting our community. So definitely show up, show out be here," King said.
Stephen Darrington Jr. is Russell's nephew, an event sponsor with American Family Insurance. He said he does want to try and reach youth going through struggles within the community in any way that he can. If driving his slingshot, a loud cool vehicle which many are attracted to, will get him in to talk to young community members, he plans to take it.
"To show up to events and just let the community know that we're here for them. We hear them and we care about the families that are losing loved ones due to gun violence," Darrington said.
The bike ride will park at the Fredrick Douglas Community Center where a big party-like event will happen with raffles, vendors, speakers, food trucks and more. Community elder and advocate Brother Washington Muhammad will host the event.
"I live in the community, I work in the community, I worship in the community," Muhammad said. "And I think that it's time that people like myself, those that consider themselves older, get back in."
The event is free and open to the public. Deborah Sue, a C.R.A.Y.V. board member and local businesswoman, said that the more hands showing up could lighten the load to end gun violence.
"Help us talk to our young people. We want our young people to live. We want everybody to survive in Toledo and Toledo to thrive," Sue said.