March For Each Other Takes Stand Against Violence

Asbury Park

March For Each Other Takes Stand Against Violence

Lauren Albrecht: It is up to us to look out for each other

By Michelle Gladden

The Casino on the AP Boardwalk is perhaps one of the most photographed iconic structures in Asbury Park but on Sunday night it was the destination for a group of people taking a stand against all forms of violence; be it race, domestic; gender, gun, immigrant, LGBT, or sexual.

The March For Each Other, organized by members of the Stand Against Hate Asbury Park, was sponsored by The Asbury, Asbury Galleria owner Kay Harris, Neptune City Councilwoman Pamela Renee, with support of the Asbury Park City Council and District 11 Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey and Food Not Bombs.

Close to 100 gathered to pay homage to those who lost their lives to violence. Among them was city resident Penny Dees who has spent the past 25 years commemorating her child’s life by walking the likely route the 12-year-old took before she was found bleeding from a gunshot to the head at 2:44 a.m. May 2, 1992. The murder remains unsolved.

“Twenty five years is a long time but I don’t only march for my child, I march for every child that was killed,” she said. When you hurt these children you are not just hurting one parent, you are hurting the whole community. It is time to put down the hate and stop hurting one another.”

Lauren Albrecht of the Monmouth and Ocean County Dems LGBTQ Caucus said 17-year-old trans teen Ally Lee Steinfeld is the 21st trans person murdered this year in this country.

“The history of violence against the LGBTQ persons in this country is long; from Stonewall to Matthew Shepard to Pulse,” she said. “In an era where…the definition of what constitutes a hate crime are currently not universally understood, it is up to us to look out for each other and to stand up for those among us who need to be stood up for.”

Event organizer and moderator Nicolle Harris, a city native, said she stood for all black and brown people in her community who were murdered.

“I stand here for Tyrique Pugh, Prize Johnson, Jamar Smalls, King and Self who were murdered not even two weeks ago in Neptune, sitting in their car,” she said. “These are all black men murdered not even five miles from where you are standing right now.”

Dwight Panozzo of Gays Against Guns New Jersey said they are committed to breaking the gun industry’s chain of death. The organization was founded during the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub massacre.

“That means investors, manufacturers, the NRA, and politicians who block safer gun laws,” he said. “The massacre at Pulse served as a morbid reminder that LGBTQ people are incredibly likely the target of hate violence.

DACA and Domestic Violence Immigration Attorney Andres Mejer said while there is a move now to pass protective legislation, there are 1½ to 2 million people who could be deported for doing the right thing; for coming out of the shadows.

“If we do nothing, nothing changes,” he said. Violence comes in many forms. One that we see is domestic violence. When I see it, it is normally helping the victim who happens to be an immigrant, who was helpful to law enforcement as was able to get legal status because she helped prosecute a criminal and get him or her off the streets. But too often I see couple who try to resolve their problems by calling the police.”

The group marched silently from Kennedy Park to the Casino where they shouted a call for ‘Justice.’ On the way back they sang Let There Be Peace On Earth and Amazing Grace. Once back at the park a vigil and moment of silence was held for those who lost their lives to violence.