Each year, through the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats,” players have the chance to wear cleats of their own design to raise awareness for a cause close to their hearts. Delanie Walker, a 3-time pro-bowler for the Tennessee Titans, took a different approach to the opportunity this year.
Walker, who was placed on injured reserve two weeks ago, will still use his platform to advocate for an end to gun violence. The cleats Delanie would have worn on Sunday honor the memories of seven gun violence victims from around the country. He explained, “Gun violence impacts all of us, all over the country. I’m honoring seven people on my cleats from Tennessee to California to Pittsburgh to Annapolis who were taken from us because of gun violence. The names I choose are names of victims that might not be famous or well-known, but they deserve to be remembered and it’s an honor to represent them on my cleats.”
Among the names are DeVontae Ziegler, a 15 year old from Nashville who was killed outside of his home by a friend playing with a family gun; Ronique Gardner-Williams who was in her 2nd year at the College of Marin and was killed in a drive-by shooting in Richmond; and Cecil and David Rosenthal, brothers who were killed at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Delanie continued, “We must all work together to end gun violence and promote gun safety, and I hope that through continuing to raise awareness we can keep this issue and the people we’ve lost top of mind.”
100 people die from gun violence every day in America – that’s suicides, city gun violence, domestic violence, and mass shootings. That’s 11 veterans who commit suicide every day. That’s an average of 52 women a month shot and killed by a domestic partner. That’s 2900 children and teens who are shot and killed. That is 7,000 African-Americans; African-American make up 13 percent of the population, but 56 percent of our country’s gun homicide victims.
The epidemic of gun violence kills 36,000 people a year in the United States, and we are all affected. Thank you Delanie Walker for making this point and honoring these victims:
DaVontae Ziegler (Nashville, TN) was 15 years old when he was shot and killed outside of his home in North Nashville by a friend in 2015. He was home from school for a snow day and was shoveling snow when an 11-year old friend came over with a gun he had found in his home. The boys were playing with another friend and DaVontae was shot and killed. DaVontae was well-liked by his classmates and enjoyed playing football. He is survived by his aunt and uncle Amelia and Glenn Griswould.
Cecil Rosenthal and David Rosenthal (Pittsburgh, PA) were beloved members of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh; the two brothers were killed a year ago at Tree of Life and are survived by their parents and two sisters. Cecil (age 59) and David (age 54) both had developmental disabilities but lived semi-independent lives with both of them working and volunteering. The two were inseparable and the “boys,” as they were called by family and friends, were greeters at Tree of Life for years and helped with services. Cecil was known for his huge, friendly personality and David, who was more quiet, volunteered with the Pittsburgh fire department.
Ronique Gardner-Williams (Richmond, CA) was in her 2nd year at the College of Marin and wanted to be a veterinarian. She was shot and killed December 2016 in a drive-by shooting in Richmond while in the passenger seat of her boyfriend’s car. Police do not believe that Ronique was the intended target of the crime, and her murder remains unsolved. Ronique’s mother, Nicole, moved her family to Mill Valley from Boston eight years earlier after her older son was shot and permanently disabled. She is a volunteer with Moms Demand Action and the Everytown Survivor Network Ronique is also survived by her younger brother, Nicholas, a middle school student.
Jerod Lewis (Bartlett, TN) was a father, member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, and was studying to be a paramedic when he was killed while driving down American Way on August 3, 2012. He was 25 years old. No arrests have been made and no leads have been established. His mother, JoAnn Lewis, is a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network.
Christopher Thomas (Memphis, TN) was shot and killed February 8, 2015 after an argument in a parking lot. He was 22-years old and is survived by his two daughters, brother, and parents. His mother, Tara, is a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network.
John McNamara (Annapolis, MD) was a journalist and one of five members of the Annapolis Capital staff shot on June 28, 2018. At the time of his death, John was 56 and he had covered sports at all levels for more than thirty years. He was completing his first book, a history of Washington high schools’ contributions to basketball. John’s wife, Andrea Chamblee, completed the book after John was killed. The Capital of Basketball was published this week. Andrea has become an advocate for gun safety in the face of threats against her and her safety.
