Fed up with the recent spate of gun violence in the city, Asbury Park residents gathered Monday evening to voice their frustrations at a rally on the west side of the city.
At the rally, Rev. Kevin Nunn unveiled a campaign to begin a “Stop the Violence” chapter in Asbury Park. Stop the Violence has chapters throughout the state, including Camden and Trenton, according to Nunn.
Members of the community recruited to head the campaign include former NAACP Neptune-Asbury chapter President Howard West; Penny Dees whose daughter Quiana Dees was killed in the city; former Asbury Park Police Lieutenant and watch commander George Corbin; and Brittany Thomas, who will serve as youth outreach coordinator.
The organization’s plan of action begins with a prayer march from Asbury Park Middle School to each location in the city someone was murdered on Septemer 21 at noon. At each location, a different pastor will stand and pray with the victim’s family members. The march will end with closing remarks and a final prayer at Deliverance Temple, located at 504 Prospect Ave.
Other events include a door-to-door campaign to address individual and community issues, a banquet hosted by Parents Against Community Killings [PACK] to honor the death of Tylik Pugh, who was killed in October of 2006, a banquet to invite the families of victims who were killed in other shooting deaths throughout the state and a positive rap contest that will award $400 to the person who can rap the best “positive constructive lyrics,” Nunn said.
“We have long discovered within our city that what affects one of us indirectly affects all of us whether you live by the boardwalk or whether you live on Washington Avenue,” said Nunn. “If we have any chance of taking back our city this is the time for us to step up and do it.”
At the rally, held at the murder site of Tyrell Howard on Washington Avenue, Howard’s mother Lavon Walker [shown above, at center] expressed her aggravation with the murders and what she views is an inadequate response from police.
“The police have done nothing,” she said.
Police have yet to identify anyone responsible for Howard’s Aug. 16 death. Walker says she knows who is responsible for her son’s death, and fears for her life.
“They know who I am,” she said. “I want to be relocated.”
City resident Sonja Mack has seen three of her sons shot in the city. Her son Daniel was “just sitting in a car with a girl” when he and the young woman were shot, she said. All three of her sons and the young woman suffered non-fatal wounds. Her father, however, was fatally shot in the city.
“As a community, we’re tired,” said Mack.
In her capacity as youth outreach coordinator, Thomas would like to set up a forum for kids to talk about their lives and experiences.
“Half of [those who are part of the shootings] have no one to listen to them at home,” she said.
For more information about the Stop the Violence committee in Asbury Park, visit their Facebook page.
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