"It's a plague:" Common Council committee votes in favor of "Violence Prevention Month" in May



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- On the coldest day of the year, city leaders said they worry what will happen when it gets warmer.

On Thursday, February 19th, a Milwaukee Common Council committee took a largely symbolic vote on a measure to address violence in the city, but many believe it's still an important step.

Sierra Guyton



"Violence in Milwaukee is getting out of hand and I do not want to grow up in a city where you can't walk down the street from your house," said Erica Lofton, a girl who was friends with 10-year-old Sierra Guyton.

Lofton is only 14 years old, but she's as qualified as anyone to speak about the impact violence has on inner-city families. Her good friend, Sierra Guyton, was shot last May while on a playground near 28th and Clarke. She died two months later. Guyton was caught in the crossfire as two men exchanged bullets.

"She was a really amazing young lady and it was just really sad to see one of our own get hurt in Milwaukee and that just reflects on how Milwaukee is as a whole," said Lofton.

Lofton testified before the Public Safety Committee, which approved a resolution to designate May as "Violence Prevention Month" in Milwaukee.

"It's a plague on much of Milwaukee and so I commend members of the community who are willing to step forward and decry that violence and draw attention to the fact they are the ones suffering the most from it," said Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn.

Chief Flynn says Milwaukee had 15 homicides in January 2015, compared to one in January of 2014.

While Thursday's resolution was largely ceremonial, supporters say it's significant.

"I'm always encouraged, whatever action we take -- the little, the small, whatever it be, it's great toward our effort," said Marna Winbush, Co-Founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence.

Lofton says Sierra Guyton was working toward peace herself. They both were members of Girls in Action. She's asking for everyone to help finish what Guyton started.

"If she's gone, we need to raise up all the other kids who were potential leaders like Sierra was and if they're gone, we won't have any leaders in the future, so I believe we need to think ahead," said Lofton.

Sierra Guyton certainly is an exception to this, but Chief Flynn says a common theme when it comes to violence in Milwaukee is both the victim and offender having lengthy criminal records, oftentimes including gun crimes.

Flynn says last year, Milwaukee police confiscated about 2,500 illegally obtained guns -- nearly the same amount as in New York.

CLICK HERE for further coverage involving Sierra Guyton via FOX6Now.com.