Minnesota Mother to Attend Fourth Annual Lost Voices of Fentanyl Rally July 13th in Washington, D.C.

(KNSI) — The fourth annual Lost Voices of Fentanyl rally is coming up on July 13th.

It’s an all day event that kicks off at the Washington Monument at 10:00 a.m. with guest speakers that include public safety officials and agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration who have had a front row seat to the fentanyl crisis.

Founded by April Babcock in 2019 following the loss of her son, Austen, due to Fentanyl poisoning, LVOF has been committed to raising awareness and pressuring lawmakers to take action.

“We will raise our voices for those who can no longer speak for themselves,” said April Babcock, LVOF President. “The pain of losing a child is indescribable, and we are determined to fight relentlessly until effective measures are taken to end this crisis.”

The day concludes with a march to the White House at 4:00, where messages of heartache, hope and determination will be delivered.

Members of LVOF will attend the rally, and will be escorted by the police to the White House. Attendees will voice their concerns to President Joe Biden and other government leaders.

A central Minnesota woman who lost her daughter to an accidental fentanyl overdose is among the marchers this year.

Julie’s daughter Shawna died in 2020 at the age of 37. She was on a pain management plan after suffering serious injuries in a car crash, but the pandemic prevented access to healthcare, and Julie believes that’s why Shawna turned to other means of obtaining painkillers. Julie says Shawna took what she thought was a Percocet, but the pill was laced with a deadly amount of fentanyl. Ashley Kapol pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the case, and she was sentenced earlier this year to nearly eight years in prison.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between January of 2023 and January 2024, the number of suspected deaths due to opioid poisoning deaths in Minnesota is down roughly 4.5%. Elsewhere, including Nevada, Oregon and Washington, opioid poisoning deaths are up around 30%.

___