Faces of Courage - Kenny Barnes, Sr
Channel: Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Date: 2013-06-10

On September 24th 2001, Kenny Barnes Jr. was shot and killed in his clothing store on U Street, NW in Washington, D.C. by a 17-year old who had murdered at least two other people the same year. Kenny Barnes, Sr. worked afterwards with members of the community and police in order to bring the perpetrator to justice, leading to an arrest and conviction.

Mr. Barnes is the founder and CEO of Reaching Out To Others Together, Incorporated (ROOT), whose mission is to motivate and mobilize communities to take a proactive approach to reducing gun violence. In 2009, Mr. Barnes was the recipient of the Hometown Hero Award presented by Black Entertainment Television (BET), and  honored by the DC City Council with a resolution in his honor, a Proclamation, and a day in his name. Barnes also received the National Service Award at the National Crime Victim's Rights Week Awards Ceremony by Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice. Most recently he was featured in the film Trigger.