Dozens of families impacted by gun violence enjoyed some holiday happiness during a Christmas party hosted by the New Mexico Crusaders for Justice.
About 50 families from Albuquerque attended, all dealing with the loss of someone due to the toxic mixture of guns, anger and violence.
Laura Brown lost her spouse Mark Solano in a suspected road rage incident. “It will be two years in January, and we still haven’t had any arrests, any answers, nothing,” Brown told KOB. “My daughter misses her dad. It’s been really hard to adjust without him.”
Santa Claus made a special appearance during the party to distribute presents to about 78 children. “When you lose someone so close to you and the holidays come around you just don’t want to celebrate, you just kind of lose your Christmas spirit,” New Mexico Crusaders for Justice Co-Founder Alicia Otero told KOB. “So, if we can take time off, just one day, and let someone else do it for you, it makes life a lot easier.”
Mothers like Cassandra Scott, who lost her son, 15, to gun violence four years ago, told KOB the support means a lot.
“It gives me hope and joy that people are still willing to come together and help the community,” Scott said.
The New Mexico Crusaders for Justice will welcome any family who needs support. The group has a network of 900 Albuquerque families, and recently started chapters in Ruidoso and Farmington.
“We’re all about the families so any time we can do something for the families,” Otero said. “They’re already going through enough heartbreak and stuff. So, anything to make it a little bit easier.”