Ronald Boyd, junior, has one. Isaiah Hughston, sophomore, wants one.

A new movement has spread across the nation.

In the St. Louis Metropolitan Area alone, more than 10,000 yard signs that read “We must stop killing each other” have surfaced in the windows of local businesses and in the yards of families.

James Clark, vice president of community outreach for non-profit organization Better Family Life, started the campaign last March.

“When you look at the African American community first, we have tolerated killing,” Clark said. “We have tolerated homicide. You know it has got to the point where in some of our neighborhoods, homicides are accepted and expected.”

This dangerous pattern of thinking can be stopped, Clark said, but it’s going to take everyone doing their part to accomplish this.

According to the FBI, over 90 percent black homicides were committed by black people in 2013.

This human tendency for violence is the single largest issue facing society today, Clark said.

“Now is the hour,” Clark said. “This is the moment in history for us the challenge that behavior. Then, we can look beyond the African American community and all human beings must accept the fact that we do not have to kill.”

Those interested in supporting the movement can obtain a “We must stop killing each other” sign for no charge by calling Better Family Life Community Outreach Division at 314-381-8200. People can also make a donation to the organization.

This movement is not based on speed, but direction, Clark said.

“We are under no illusion that by pointing the signs out we would cut the homicide rate,” Clark said. “This is pointing us in a direction that no one can ignore.”

Ronald Boyd, junior, proudly displays a “We must stop killing each other” sign in his front yard and has seen an influx of these signs in his neighborhood.

Boyd said he supports the movement because it’s crucial for people to understand the dangers of violent behavior and to eventually end this cycle of violence.

“It’s a good way to you know get attention and to get people to recognize that we must stop killing each other,” Boyd said.

Brittany Hogan, Rockwood coordinator of Equity and Diversity, said these signs are a clear indicator of the community’s readiness for a change and awareness of the realities of violence.

“I think it is always important when a community makes a collective and impactful statement about what is happening in their neighborhood,” Hogan said.

“Any community that our students reside in is also part of the school community, there is no separating us because what impacts us individually eventually impacts all of us,” Hogan said.

These signs can have a profound effect on students, especially those who have lost loved ones to violent crimes.

Hogan said the people in her department and Student Services have had several conversations with administrators, teacher, social workers and guidance counselors about the impacts on gun violence and this movement. They handle each situation on an individual basis, and each student is provided with the help he or she needs.

“We want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support all our students’ needs,” Hogan said.

Isaiah Hughston, sophomore, said he knows many people may want to help support the movement but don’t know how to go about it. He recommends that people educate themselves about what’s going on in their own community.

“The truth of the matter is we are actually killing each other,” Hughston said. “It breaks my heart. We’re over here trying to point fingers at other people, but we need fix ourselves and them as well.”