TEXARKANA, Arkansas – A Texarkana mother is holding an anti-violence rally this week in memory of her daughter who was killed by gunfire five years ago.
The rally takes place on the day that would have been Shawntell Young’s daughter’s 24th birthday. Jaqualyn Paxton died at the age of 18 from gun violence.
“My daughter’s life. She was my heart. She had a big heart. I know she would have wanted that from me,” said Young, the rally organizer.
Young describes her daughter as a fun-loving and friendly young lady who always had a smile on her face.
In April 2019, Paxton was shot and killed in an apartment complex on the Arkansas side. Young says she doesn’t want any more families to go through her ordeal.
She honors her daughter’s memory with a rally every year. The event will feature guest speakers who will talk about the effects of gun violence and there will be a softball tournament.
Young is using her grief to create change by calling on the community to lay down their weapons.
“This is the reason for all these premature deaths, these senseless murders. They rob people to take their guns and kill them. But a human being lives a human life. We need to take the guns out of these kids’ hands,” Young said.
Young also launched a scholarship program, and this year 16 people received scholarships.
Each student who applies must write an essay on the impact of gun violence on society.
The “Stop the Violence” rally will take place on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. on the ball fields behind the “We Are Washington” community center.
