Gun Violence Victims Remembered in ‘Faces Not Forgotten’ Art Memorial
INDIANAPOLIS — Gun violence isn’t exclusive to Indiana. It’s a problem Americans face from coast to coast. But in Indianapolis, homicides continue to rise to record-breaking levels, and more families are losing their children.
That’s why “Faces Not Forgotten” is putting a spotlight on the problem. It’s an art exhibit with painted displays of children 21 and under who’ve died because of gun violence. It’s a national spotlight, but there are an unfortunate amount of Indiana children included in the exhibit.
Christine Ilewski, Faces Not Forgotten founder and executive director, tells our news-gathering partners at WISH-TV the loss of life in that age group is becoming greater, “We know that the statistics are that we are losing eight children in that age group every single day to gun violence.” Ilewski is also a member of Mom’s Demand Action.
The Faces Not Forgotten display spent the month of September at the IUPUI campus, featuring eight Hoosier faces. The exhibit includes victims of homicide and suicide.
“We cannot forget these children that have died from gun violence, whether it is gun violence from a homicide, unintentional shooting in the home, or a suicide,” Cathy Weinmann, Indianapolis lead for Mom’s Demand Action tells WISH-TV.
Weinmann says the problem is becoming worse here in Indianapolis, where the city is currently on track to break another homicide record.
“You become immune to it,” Weinmann tells WISH-TV, “it’s just another morning report like the traffic report.”
Weinmann further explains, “It gives faces to the names. It makes real people out of numbers. We have to get past the headcount and we have to look at the individuals, the people, the children, and all of the people they leave behind whose lives are devastated forever.”
Jackie Jackson, a pastor with Everytown For Gun Safety, tells WISH-TV he’s involved because he knows how gun violence can impact a family and their loved ones.
“I was shot at 10 years old by a trusted neighbor. My oldest son was shot 37 years later in the back with a shotgun and he lived,” Jackson tells WISH-TV.
“I have seen what it does to families. Right there when it happens and later on down the road,” says Jackson.
The Faces Not Forgotten display has packed up and moved on, but you can still contribute to the organization and it’s message. You can always submit a photo of a victim on the Faces Not Forgotten website to be commissioned. There’s no charge for the victim’s family.
