Bikers spread anti-gun violence messages in local communities
On Friday morning, a group of bikers took to the streets to send a message: Guns do not belong in their community.
A small but determined group of bikers and concerned parents rode through the streets of Homewood into Larimer and ended at a park in Lincoln, hoping to send a message.
“Get the guns out of the kids’ hands,” said Daniel “Speed Racer” Dawkins, president of Maxed-Outed-Riders. Dawkins said he traveled from Clairton City to participate.
The Ride for Peace was organized by Donnance Castaphney who lost her son to gun violence in April 2021. Friday would have been her son’s 16th birthday.
“He was a great kid who wouldn’t harm anybody, and it was senseless to lose him this way,” Castaphney said.
Her son’s murder has not been solved, and the past year has been difficult, but Castaphney said she hopes the event brings awareness, and at the very least, supports other grieving parents.
“He was 28 years old; he was my oldest child. I will miss him dearly. He has two young children that he leaves behind,” said Dena, her son was killed on July 24.
Dena’s son, Kyle Wilson, was killed over the weekend in Homewood. She said she attended Friday’s event because she wants the community to reclaim their streets and say “enough is enough.”
“You do not have to be in the streets. It is a choice you can make. Get an education, help your community rather than tearing it down,” Dena said.
The day’s event ended with food and speakers. Community members said the fellowship is needed as the city sees record homicides. So far in 2022, there have been more than 40 killings.
“As a community, we will do better,” Dawkins said.
Organizers said this ride was just the first of many.
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