Two Durham Mothers Start 'Guns Down, Hearts Up' To Combat City's Increasing Gun Violence

DURHAM, NC – In 2020, the City of Durham experienced over 900 shooting incidents. Now, two mothers are on a mission to help decrease the shootings and bring a positive impact back to the city they call home.

Guns Down, Hearts Up (GDHU) was started in late 2020 by Durham residents Nita Shaw and Tammie Goodman to help combat the increasing gun violence incidents happening across the city. The organizers want to bring the city government, police, and community together to bring awareness and get justice for families that have lost loved ones due to gun violence. The two connected after experiencing personal losses of their own.

Shaw lost her son Amon Shaw in 2020 and nephew Gregory Shaw Jr. in 2018, both due to gun incidents, while Goodman is still waiting and praying for the best in her situation. Goodman’s son, Charleston Goodman, was kidnapped on Jan. 28, 2018, and has yet to be found.

One of the major changes the organization intends on bringing change to the city is through educating and mentoring the youth, with a heavy focus on the young Black men.

“Our men need guidance. They need love and support from their families” said Shaw, who believes that offering more city/countywide youth programs would help significantly decrease the violence and increase positive productivity.

Goodman shares those same sentiments and hopes to bring back a trade program or school to the city. She believes the start in making any type of change begins with education.

While the organization is still in its beginning stages, the two mothers are clear on what they want to happen through ‘Guns Down, Hearts Up’, and that’s to educate and inspire young men and women while holding city and law enforcement officials accountable.

Currently, GDHU gathers every Saturday at 2:00 pm (inclement weather considered) in Downtown Durham to protest, march, and let the City hear their voice.

The two mothers have also begun holding monthly group support meetings every 3rd Saturday, and, a “State of Emergency” community town hall meeting where members of the community strategize and share new ideas on how to better the City of Durham.

Both Shaw and Goodman are hopeful and optimistic for what the future holds and both understand the challenges they face. The one thing they’re asking for most is support.

Since the creation of GDHU, women have been their biggest supporters and now the push is to get more men involved not only within the organization but, within the lives of the youth in the community as well.

For more information, visit Guns Down, Hearts Up.