TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. — On Friday there were 39 empty chairs spread out in front of the Tangipahoa Parish courthouse. Each one represents a victim of a drug overdose in the area.
A local organization called Mo's Movement presented the display for the 'Empty Chair Project', showing the impact drug overdose can leave.
Angela Shockley is the founder of Mo's Movement, naming the group after her daughter Morgan, whose nickname is Mo. She died from drug poisoning last year.
Shockley started the movement to spread awareness about the dangers of drugs and to get resources to substance abuse victims.
"Pushing for investigations that every drug poisoning warrants a criminal investigation," Shockley said. "If we don't investigate, we can not incarcerate. And we can't get the drug dealers off the streets."
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker says there have been at least 36 overdose deaths since the start of the year and expects at least six more drug-related deaths before the year ends.
He says drug dealers are now getting bigger punishments if their illegal activity leads to lives being lost.
"Whether it's through text messages, personal witnesses, [or] whatever means necessary, that we track down that individual that dealt that lethal dose," Sheriff Sticker said. "We're going to put them in jail for homicide, for second-degree murder".
Shockley says the entire display will be taken down on Sunday.
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