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With 49 homicides in Minneapolis and St. Paul combined in 2019 so far, one group is outlining ways to fight back. Community leaders in north Minneapolis on Friday launched a new effort to stem gun violence in the Twin Cities.

Raeisha Williams is the lead organizer of Guns Down Love Up, which is holding a unity festival Saturday from 1-8 p.m. at Bethune Park. The free event will include music, food, and opportunities for healing for those who've suffered trauma.

Williams' 33-year-old brother Tyrone, a Black Lives Matter activist, was shot to death in April 2018 amid a dispute.

9 hours, 3 shootings, 3 dead in St. Paul; 2 teens arrested in Rice St. killing

Williams said she wants to encourage people who have information about unsolved homicides to come forward. She said her 

, who’s serving a 20-year sentence, was brought to justice because a person who knew what happened spoke with investigators.

"Somebody in the community stepped up and said they knew who did the shooting, and they provided us with all the information we needed for him to be prosecuted."

Organizers are also planning a gun buyback program in the near future.

There have been 29 homicides so far this year in Minneapolis, and 20 in St. Paul.

Crime, Law and Justice

Minnesota News

Twin Cities News

NewsPartners

Matt Sepic

Author

With 49 homicides so far in Minneapolis and St. Paul combined, one group is outlining ways to fight back.

Rosemary Nevils Williams, mother of Tyrone Williams, speaks to reporters.

North Minneapolis group hopes 'unity festival' will heal violence's wounds

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