Turning Grief into Action: Arron Murphy-Paine on Building Legacy and Fighting Gun Violence
Arron Murphy-Paine talks on air in the 1150 AM KKNW studio in Bellevue, Washington on Monday. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
In a moving appearance on The Mother’s Justice Show on 1150 AM KKNW, community leader and activist Arron Murphy-Paine sat down with guest host Omari Salisbury on Monday to discuss the enduring legacy of his son, Amarr Murphy-Paine, and his journey toward transforming personal grief into community action.
Amarr, a 17-year-old student at Garfield High School, was murdered on June 6, 2024, while attempting to break up a fight between two other students. Nearly two years later, the crime remains unsolved. Despite this weight, Arron is focused on cementing a legacy for his son through his organization, Amarr's Heart Foundation.
"My legacy…it's all contingent to what I build in his name," Arron said of his son, describing him as a "gentle giant" and a natural peacekeeper.
Omari Salisbury (left) sits with Amarr Murphy-Paine (right) in the Hubbard Radio Seattle studio in Bellevue, Washington on Monday. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
The foundation’s motto, K.I.N.D. (Kind Interaction Negates Destruction), stems from the family’s tradition of service. This spirit was recently visible when Garfield students, last fall, far exceeded their goal for a sock drive held in Amarr’s memory, collecting 3,000 pairs of socks.
For Arron, these moments are important to recovery. "That's our healing process out loud," he said. "That's the physical form of what healing looks like for us.”
As the two-year anniversary of his son’s death approaches, Arron is planning events to coincide with National Gun Violence Awareness Day. In a shift from the previous year’s student walk-out, the foundation is organizing a community walk-in at Garfield High School on June 4: the first annual Chalk & Talk.
"Last year, we invited the students to walk out," Murphy-Paine said. "This year we're inviting the community to walk in... to have the community reconnect with the kids.”
Through Amarr's Heart Foundation, Arron said he aims to eventually create a youth-led food bank and continue supporting fathers and families navigating the "fraternity of sorrow" that gun violence creates.
The Chalk & Talk event is happening on Thursday, June 4th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave, Seattle. Learn more about Amarr’s Heart Foundation and upcoming events here.
Tune in to The Mother’s Justice Show Mondays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on 1150 AM KKNW.
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