A series of billboards showing Oakland youth holding pictures of loved ones killed on neighborhood streets have been put up at various locations around the city.
The mayor's office and the youth group Urban Peace Movement partnered to create the "Stop the Killing, Start the Healing" public awareness campaign in an effort to combat violence that often leads to the death of young people on Oakland streets.
One billboard shows a picture of 8-year-old Alex Nava holding a photo of his 3-year-old brother Carlos, who was shot and killed on Aug. 8.
A caption reads, "He was my little brother, only 3 when we lost him."
The billboard was put up on International Boulevard near 66th Avenue, the intersection where the boy was killed.
Other billboards have been installed at various locations along International Boulevard between 57th Avenue and the city limit with San Leandro.
The campaign was conceived and created by Oakland youth, who took the pictures, appeared in the images, and wrote the slogans.
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The images are intended to illuminate the impact of street violence on young people in Oakland and discourage others from participating in violent behavior.
