Jacksonville mother pushes to remove gang violence-related music videos from social media

2 years ago 325

Tonya Love’s son, Prosper Johnson, was 17 erstwhile helium was killed during a shootout connected Jacksonville’s Northside successful 2014. (YouTube)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Eight years aft her son’s shooting death, viral rap euphony videos person opened aged wounds for Tonya Love.

Love said she was shocked precocious to spot a video mocking her son’s decease spell viral connected TikTok.

“I heard my son’s name, Prosper, I’m similar ohio my God. It brought tears to my eyes,” Love said.

Love’s son, Prosper Johnson, was 17 erstwhile helium was killed during a shootout connected Jacksonville’s Northside successful 2014. Now that she has seen her son’s sanction on with different victims of weapon unit mocked successful rap videos that diagnostic details astir deadly shootings, she is taking action.

Love created an online petition connected Change.org to region pack and violence-related euphony from the internet.

Over the years, Love has turned her heartbreak into her mission. She created a nonprofit successful her son’s grant called “No Weapon Shall Prosper” that advocates for weapon unit consciousness with her ain dependable successful euphony videos.

Since her son’s sanction is utilized done the nonprofit, she’s hoping to get his sanction trademarked to forestall his sanction from being utilized successful much songs with convulsive lyrics.

John Phillips, an lawyer not connected to her situation, said trademarking tin beryllium tricky considering artists person the close to state of speech.

“The occupation is, you’re dealing with a decedent’s sanction and the instrumentality conscionable hasn’t done a bully occupation protecting that,” said Phillips.

Phillips said adjacent if parents similar Love can’t legally get the songs taken down, applying unit and consciousness tin help.

MORE: Jacksonville rappers are making euphony videos astir existent murders. Police and mothers of victims are watching

“The ma applying unit to grounds labels and venues that play the songs tin enactment careless of trademark and First Amendment,” said Phillips.

Love said she volition not springiness up warring to support her son’s name.

News4JAX reached retired to TikTok astir the concerns with these videos. We’ve besides talked with different mothers whose sons’ names person been utilized successful rap videos, they archer america they’ve tried reaching retired to antithetic societal media platforms, but ne'er got immoderate response.