CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The mood was somber but hopeful Tuesday morning as family members and friends of recent murder victims gathered in front of the Montgomery County Courthouse to stage a peaceful protest.

The protesters held signs and photographs representing their loved ones while echoing the chant “Murder equals no bond.”

After another Clarksville resident fell victim to gun violence this month, the mothers of the murder victims decided it was time to take a stand.

(Video editing by Daynnah Carmona | ClarksvilleNow.com)

Jessenia Mercado is the mother of Adam Marquez, who was fatally shot Aug. 29, 2014 during an altercation on Needmore Rd. Marquez was 19 at the time of his death.

The suspect, Joshua Aretz, was arrested and charged with murder, but was released on bond.

On Aug. 9, 2015, 21-year-old Savon Easterling, a Fort Campbell soldier who lived on Teakwood Dr., was shot and killed in front of his home. Aretz was later named the suspect in that shooting as well.

According to court documents, Aretz violated the conditions of his release on at least four separate occasions, including the removal of his monitoring device. He was arrested Aug. 11 and his bond was revoked.

Mercado says she and her family were aware that Aretz had been violating the terms of his release prior to the death of Easterling and had contacted the District Attorney’s (DA) office. “They brushed it off,” she said.

A week before Easterling’s death, Mercado said the DA’s office had decided to address her claims.

“They assured us that within three to four weeks they were going to review all the information and that they would bring him back in to custody. We felt good about it, but then sadly a week later Joshua Aretz is accused of killing a soldier, so it’s a little too late, he murdered someone else,” she said.

ClarksvilleNow.com has reached out to the DA’s office for comment.

“I’m devastated for the soldier’s mom because I know exactly how she feels. It’s ridiculous to me because he (Aretz) should not have been in the street in the first place; he should have been behind bars.”

The mothers of other victims were present to support Mercado and demand justice for their own children.

Carmen Caratini lost her son, 24-year-old Frankie, in a shooting on Chapel St. in 2014. No arrests have been made so far in the case.

“Violence is taking our streets. I think we’re sending the message that it’s ok to kill somebody because you will get out on bond. But it’s not ok,” Caratini said.

“If the community doesn’t do its job and people don’t talk, then how are we going to solve these problems? Right now it was my son, it was my heart. I lost my baby. But next time it could be yours if we don’t do something about it, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Michelle Bennett shared the same sentiments. Bennett’s daughter Arianna Spencer was killed at the age of 19 during a party in Palmyra earlier this year.

Bennett said Arianna was an innocent bystander who became another victim of gun violence.

As gun fire rang out during a fight, Arianna and her friends ducked. “She was the only one that did not come up. She was struck in the head by a stray bullet,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how much I miss my baby. I miss her every single day. She was only 19. She had her whole life ahead of her. We just really need to stop gun violence in this town.”

These mothers want to see justice for their children and hope by bringing awareness to their own personal situations, they can help stop other crimes in the city of Clarksville.