NEW YORK (NNPA) – Outraged community activists across New York has brought the struggles of inner-city violence to Times Square. Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Acton Network held a National Day of Outrage Against Gun Violence Nov. 23. The rally was one of 25 held simultaneously across the country.

The gathering brought dozens of community leaders, clergy and families of people who have had their lives snatched from senseless gun violence. Sharpton was in Atlanta leading a similar march at NAN’s southeast regional headquarters. Marches were held bearing the same theme in places that included Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cleveland and even a small town in Alabama.

While the flashing lights, glitz and glamour of Times Square usually attracts tourists from around the world, those visiting New York saw a face of the city not portrayed in posh reality TV shows and prime-time dramas. Even though Sharpton was not present at the rally, those in his place, like NAN Executive Director Tamika Mallory and his daughter Dominique, kept with his usual message of “No justice, no peace” but added, “Stop the violence.”

“This isn’t Iraq; this is New Raq,” said Mallory. “We are here because we are outraged at the senseless, vicious killings in our community. We can’t stand against the police when we are shooting each other. I am committed to this fight.”
The  rally brought out a laundry list of outspoken activists from around the city, including Erica Ford, A.T. Mitchell, Jackie Rowe-Adams, Hazel Dukes, Spike Lee and Brooklyn City Council Members Leticia James and Charles Barron.

“Black and Latino youth might be pulling the trigger, but unemployment is providing the ammunition,” said Barron. “The individual is responsible, but so is society. But no matter how broke you are, there is no rationale for you to shoot your own brother and sister. That’s self-hatred.”

Family members of gun violence victims spoke about the loss of their loved ones, many of whom were mothers of young Black men. Family members of Kevin Miller, Lacy Jenkins, Chris Owens and others shared the emotional affects of losing loved ones.

Eleven-year-old gun violence survivor Devonte Kelly gave his personal take on the chaos in his community, noting that Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X didn’t fight for Blacks to be killing each other.

Midway though the rally, an empty, brown wooden casket was brought to the front of the podium to demonstrate the reality that gun violence leaves behind. Ford didn’t hold back her outrage when the casket was placed in front of the crowd.

“This is what it’s about,” she said angrily pointing to the casket. “It’s about these young people! We are outraged! Too many of our children are being taken away! No more! Our children’s lives are too important!

The rally was followed by a march around Times Square as protesters wheeled the casket through the streets of Midtown.

The Day of Outrage comes on the heels of several incidents in which innocent people have become victims of gun violence. The most recent occurred in Harlem, where 66-year-old Virginia Valree was shot in the leg in Harlem on 135th Street while she was taking food to a sick friend.

Stray bullets shot two women, Ashley Hardwick, 22, and Jasmin Jones, 19, while they were coming out of a party on Lenox Avenue between 131st and 132nd streets this past Saturday. Both women survived. Outrage is still simmering over the shooting of Vada Vasquez in the Bronx. The 15-year-old was shot in the head last week by a stray bullet that put her in a coma.

Pastor Vernon Williams, who does his own nightly walks to prevent gang violence in Harlem, said that while the issue of gun violence was brought up for one day in Times Square, it should be a daily effort.

“I love the fact that people are now taking up the issue and want to have rallies, but we have to be doing things on a daily basis,” he said. “Calling for a day of outrage isn’t enough. We need to have resources and other opportunities for young people on a daily basis.”

The city has already taken charge regarding the problem, holding several meetings on the issue. Mayor Michael Bloomberg called several community and religious leaders to Gracie Mansion to discuss the problem. Sharpton had a private meeting with Bloomberg during the gathering.

The fight against gun violence became a little easier on Monday, Nov. 23, when it was announced the NYPD recovered dozens of guns in a Florida-to-New York gun trafficking ring. Two men have been charged with a 105-count indictment after a three-month investigation. In total, 56 guns were taken off the street.
“The NYPD and Brooklyn district attorney’s office have taken guns off our streets and made our city safer,” said Bloomberg. “These investigations are so important because even though we’ve cut crime to historic lows, children like Vada Vasquez are still getting shot on our streets.”

But while Monday’s recovery was glimmer of hope on the crackdown on gun violence, news broke Tuesday that South Carolina is using Black Friday for a tax holiday on firearm purchases. Reports indicate that the state is one of five that provides 85 percent of illegal handguns in New York City.

On Nov. 24 U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, along with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, unveiled the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act 2009. The act will give more power to local, state and federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gun traffickers.

“By cracking down on illegal gun traffickers and their vast criminal networks, we can reduce gun violence and keep our children and families safe,” said Gillibrand. “As a mother of two young children, I care deeply about keeping our families and neighborhoods safe and giving law enforcement the tools they need to eliminate illegal guns from the streets and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”

brought dozens of community leaders, clergy and families of people who have had their lives snatched from senseless gun violence. Sharpton was in Atlanta leading a similar march at NAN’s southeast regional headquarters.

Marches were held bearing the same theme in places that included Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cleveland and even a small town in Alabama.

While the flashing lights, glitz and glamour of Times Square usually attracts tourists from around the world, those visiting New York saw a face of the city not portrayed in posh reality TV shows and prime-time dramas. Even though Sharpton was not present at the rally, those in his place, like NAN Executive Director Tamika Mallory and his daughter Dominique, kept with his usual message of “No justice, no peace” but added, “Stop the violence.”

“This isn’t Iraq; this is New Raq,” said Mallory. “We are here because we are outraged at the senseless, vicious killings in our community. We can’t stand against the police when we are shooting each other. I am committed to this fight.”

The  rally brought out a laundry list of outspoken activists from around the city, including Erica Ford, A.T. Mitchell, Jackie Rowe-Adams, Hazel Dukes, Spike Lee and Brooklyn City Council Members Leticia James and Charles Barron.

“Black and Latino youth might be pulling the trigger, but unemployment is providing the ammunition,” said Barron. “The individual is responsible, but so is society. But no matter how broke you are, there is no rationale for you to shoot your own brother and sister. That’s self-hatred.”

Family members of gun violence victims spoke about the loss of their loved ones, many of whom were mothers of young Black men. Family members of Kevin Miller, Lacy Jenkins, Chris Owens and others shared the emotional affects of losing loved ones.

Eleven-year-old gun violence survivor Devonte Kelly gave his personal take on the chaos in his community, noting that Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X didn’t fight for Blacks to be killing each other.

Midway though the rally, an empty, brown wooden casket was brought to the front of the podium to demonstrate the reality that gun violence leaves behind. Ford didn’t hold back her outrage when the casket was placed in front of the crowd.
“This is what it’s about,” she said angrily pointing to the casket. “It’s about these young people! We are outraged! Too many of our children are being taken away! No more! Our children’s lives are too important!

The rally was followed by a march around Times Square as protesters wheeled the casket through the streets of Midtown.

The Day of Outrage comes on the heels of several incidents in which innocent people have become victims of gun violence. The most recent occurred in Harlem, where 66-year-old Virginia Valree was shot in the leg in Harlem on 135th Street while she was taking food to a sick friend.

Stray bullets shot two women, Ashley Hardwick, 22, and Jasmin Jones, 19, while they were coming out of a party on Lenox Avenue between 131st and 132nd streets this past Saturday. Both women survived. Outrage is still simmering over the shooting of Vada Vasquez in the Bronx. The 15-year-old was shot in the head last week by a stray bullet that put her in a coma.

Pastor Vernon Williams, who does his own nightly walks to prevent gang violence in Harlem, said that while the issue of gun violence was brought up for one day in Times Square, it should be a daily effort.

“I love the fact that people are now taking up the issue and want to have rallies, but we have to be doing things on a daily basis,” he said. “Calling for a day of outrage isn’t enough. We need to have resources and other opportunities for young people on a daily basis.”

The city has already taken charge regarding the problem, holding several meetings on the issue. Mayor Michael Bloomberg called several community and religious leaders to Gracie Mansion to discuss the problem. Sharpton had a private meeting with Bloomberg during the gathering.

The fight against gun violence became a little easier on Monday, Nov. 23, when it was announced the NYPD recovered dozens of guns in a Florida-to-New York gun trafficking ring. Two men have been charged with a 105-count indictment after a three-month investigation. In total, 56 guns were taken off the street.

“The NYPD and Brooklyn district attorney’s office have taken guns off our streets and made our city safer,” said Bloomberg. “These investigations are so important because even though we’ve cut crime to historic lows, children like Vada Vasquez are still getting shot on our streets.”

But while Monday’s recovery was glimmer of hope on the crackdown on gun violence, news broke Tuesday that South Carolina is using Black Friday for a tax holiday on firearm purchases. Reports indicate that the state is one of five that provides 85 percent of illegal handguns in New York City.

On Nov. 24 U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, along with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, unveiled the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act 2009. The act will give more power to local, state and federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gun traffickers.

“By cracking down on illegal gun traffickers and their vast criminal networks, we can reduce gun violence and keep our children and families safe,” said Gillibrand. “As a mother of two young children, I care deeply about keeping our families and neighborhoods safe and giving law enforcement the tools they need to eliminate illegal guns from the streets and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”