Sylvia Stitt Smith is urging city leaders to light up the city’s skyline orange on June 6, which is National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte mother is urging city leaders to do more to address juvenile crime. It’s been more than six years since her son was gunned down. Now, she’s seeking solutions as we prepare for National Gun Violence Awareness Month in June.
Sylvia Stitt Smith is urging city leaders to light up Charlotte’s skyline orange on June 6, which is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Her request may not come so easily, however.
Sylvia keeps memories in her photo album of her son as a reminder of how gun violence can devastate families, especially the children they leave behind.
“This is Sam’s son, Noah, that was actually in the room when his father was shot,” Stitt explained.
Her son, 23-year-old Samuel Stitt, was shot and killed in August 2019. She said that eventually the charges were dropped pending further evidence.
“It took about two years to make an arrest and there was a 14-year-old, that was the one who was said to have pulled the trigger, but he was with someone who was twice his age, at the time 28 years old,” Stitt stated.
Sylvia doesn’t want her son’s story to be overlooked. That’s why she went before the Charlotte City Council this week to ask members to use their influence to honor families impacted by gun violence.
“We want to see the Charlotte skyline lit in orange in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Month, that happens in June,” Stitt said.
She showed WCNC Charlotte an email that the homicide victims’ advocate for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department sent to Wells Fargo’s Lighting Program on May 22, requesting their lights in Uptown turn orange on June 6. But the response doesn’t sit well with families still seeking justice for their loved ones.
“’Thank you for your interest in the Wells Fargo lighting program. Unfortunately we are unable to meet your request at this time, and thank you for your interest.’ No explanation as to why, that was it,” Stitt said.
She isn’t giving up hope that the city’s skyline will turn orange.
“It would help to solidify the fact that our community government and our business as a whole just really acknowledges people that we’ve lost to gun violence,” Stitt said.
WCNC Charlotte reached out to Wells Fargo’s Lighting Program for comment, but did not get a response before 11 p.m. If we get a response, we will provide an update.
In the meantime, on Saturday, June 7, there’s a Raise Your Voice, Not Your Guns event in Charlotte.
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