A prominent Minneapolis peace activist decided his efforts are no longer worth it amid unceasing violence in the city.
KG Wilson, an activist who has worked against gang and gun violence in Minneapolis since the early 2000s, recently said in interviews with Fox 9 and WCCO that he is “retiring” as a peace activist in Minneapolis.
Wilson’s 6-year-old granddaughter was shot and killed two months ago while riding in the backseat of her mother’s car.
After putting his “life on the line” for so many years, Wilson told Fox 9, “All I feel like I got in return is a murdered 6-year-old granddaughter and no arrests, and it’s been two months.”
No suspects in the murders of 6-year-old Aniya Allen or 9-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith have been arrested. Four other children have been shot in Minneapolis over the last few months, one being Ladavionne Garrett Jr., who is still fighting for his life.
Wilson said he will continue his work in other cities, but just not in Minneapolis.
“I am who I am, I’m still who I am, I’m just done here in Minneapolis. I don’t want to work here, I don’t want to be here,” he told Fox 9.
According to WCCO, Wilson gave up gangs, drugs, and violence 18 years ago to give his life to helping others affected by violence.
“I gave my life, put my life on the line, to save other lives or to be there for countless other families,” Wilson said.
But now, “They’re getting bolder. Why are they so desperate to kill?” he wondered.
Wilson shared with WCCO that because his granddaughter’s killer has not been found, his “anger got so strong” that he was “losing” himself.
“And I wanted to take justice on my own, not caring about the outcome of anything. So when that thought came into my mind, I said, you know what, I can’t do that.” He then decided to leave the city that has “shattered” his “heart into thousands of pieces.”
Wilson has expressed support for police and thinks the best solution to the city’s public-safety crisis is to strengthen the ties between police and the communities they serve.
“We need police. We need the sheriff. Send in the National Guard into some places. Just come in here and shut it down,” he told the Daily Mail after his granddaughter was murdered.
A reward is being offered to anyone who has information on the murderers of Aniya Allen and Trinity Ottoson-Smith, as well as the shooter of Ladavionne Garrett Jr.
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
