'I'm still carrying that burden': Survivors of violent crime head to rally in Washington

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Survivors of violent crime are calling for change.

In West Philadelphia Monday, more than 100 participants of the Crime Survivors Speak March boarded three buses headed to Washington. Some were holding pictures of loved ones who lost their lives to gun violence.

Those joining in Tuesday’s march want to share their stories and call on lawmakers to make rehabilitation, drug treatment, and community-led violence intervention programs accessible to all who need them.

“You know trauma recovery centers are needed. I know for myself when I reported my abuse from my father when I was 17, nothing happened,” said Carolyn Wilson, of Philadelphia. “I was supposed to get counseling, but it never happened, I was supposed to go to court, nothing happened, it just went away. And it wasn’t until things surfaced — 30 plus years — so here I am, still carrying that burden.”

Yolanda Jennings is the Philadelphia Chapter Coordinator for Crime Survivors for safety and justice. She says they really want victims voices to be heard.

"We really want to let people to know that victims definitely need services like housing protection, and employment protections, we need trauma recovery centers,” Jennings said.

Jennings’ efforts are personal. She says she lost three family members to violent crime, including her son at the beginning of the year.

According to an FBI report released Monday , violent crime decreased by about 3% in 2023.