COLUMBUS, Ohio — For years, locks used to line the Rich Street Bridge in downtown Columbus, but recently the city took action to remove them due to weight concerns.
The locks were placed on the bridge to remember homicide victims. Many were placed by grieving mothers in honor of their children.
“It's a place where people stopped and looked. They may have said a prayer for our loved ones,” said Rhonda Clayborn.
There were about 150 locks on the bridge, all representing a murdered child.
“My son's was here for almost three years,” said Brenda Johnson.
In the beginning, the city told the group if the locks became a weight issue, they would be removed.
The founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children said she did not think that was the case.
In a statement, the public service department said, "The assortment of hundreds of locks attached to the Rich Street Bridge were removed during bridge maintenance to prevent extra weight from compromising structural safety. The city is working with Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children to return their locks to the families."
“Whether we buy it or not, they could have called us. We could have been here to get our locks instead of just doing it and us finding out the hard way,” Johnson said.
These mothers are hoping for a new space, a new memorial, where they and everyone can remember and honor their lost children.
“That we will be able to do something just as memorable that will be long standing and even more people can join in,” said Audria Hickman.
The group has a meeting with the city on April 9 to try to come up with a solution.