Contributed photo, Alisha Neely, 17, contributed content posted by John HoffIn the wake of the recent spate of tragic violence, the PEACE Foundation, MAD DADS and our neighbors will join in solidarity with Sanctuary Covenant Church during their Prayer Walk though the heart of the North Minneapolis to the place where Alisha Neely, 17, was murdered last weekend.
We will lift up our voices, our prayers and our hearts in unity, to quell the spirit of violence and reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting our children while establishing the beloved community.
The event will take place on Wednesday night, March 3rd at 6:30PM.
We will gather at the Sanctuary Covenant Church office located at 1201 37th Ave. N. (the corner of 37th and Emerson Avenues North). The Johnny Northside blog urges all (decent, law-abiding) Northside residents to attend if you possibly can.
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I'm reminded of why I do not hesistate to call 911 to report large groups of partying teenagers gathering in the street; not that I needed the reminder, but C'mon-- look at that photo! Had someone called in and the group been disbursed- she might still be here.
ReplyDeleteRIP. Hopefully your jackass friends will learn from your misfortune.
A group of about 60 kids gathered to loiter in the street and nobody can recall who was brandishing a gun that night? Why didn't anybody call 911 about the group gathering in the street before the gunfire broke out? From what I understand about when this happened, they were all out after curfew anyway. On top of that, what parents let their high school aged kids go to a "party" like this to begin with. I'm not trying to rub salt into a wound here, but it seems like there were an awful lot of parents who dropped the ball in this situation. 60 kids, all with parents who evidently didn't know where their kids were that night or what they were up to? It's worse yet if some of those parents did know.
ReplyDeleteHere's a parenting tip: if you don't know the parents of your kid's "friends" well enough to trust them with the safety of your child, then don't permit your kid to go to a party at that kid's house. And tip #2: if the festivities at the party involve loitering in the street after curfew, probably also a clue that you should refuse permission.
So what if your kid throws tantrum and says they hate you because you never let them hang out with their friends? That's normal... you're supposed to be their parent, not their best friend. It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes some involved and attentive parents.
I live on this street across the alley from where this girl was shot. I want emphasize that it was quiet on friday night. There was no music, fighting, we saw no kids gathering until we heard the shot at 11:45. The first thing I did was grab the phone and call 911, by the time I looked out the window to describe what I saw to the dispatcher I saw about 20-25 kids running in all directions. This block is a quiet, well organized block. Everyone here knows to call 911 on ANY suspicious behavior. There is no reason to blame the neighbors that she might still be here if we called. Momma's don't let your babies be gangstas.
ReplyDeleteAnother march for peace? How many does that make? More importantly, how they workin'?
ReplyDeleteIf you want to do something - do something. If not, don't pretend another march is going to accomplish anything. Let's face it, these marches are to make the marchers feel like they're doing something - which they aren't.
Anon 852am:
ReplyDeleteSo there was a shot, and then the 60 kids gathered?
No one is blaming the neighbors for this homocide. But, I know of many people who notice activity such as 60 kids gathered in the street and never do a thing about it. Good for you for doing something. Too bad you didn't happen to do it sooner--- but hey, it was 1145, and things sounded quiet. Who can blame you?! We've all been there, unfortunately. If it ain't loud and you don't happen to be looking, how can you be expected to do anything?
The point is-- some people see this stuff and close their blinds, and that isn't right. Other people get pissed when some of us do call. They say things like "They're having a quiet party." "Why don't you mind your own business?" "Go back inside, Asshole." "Quit calling the cops, Motherfucker!" "They're just kids."
You see what I'm sayin'?
To Anon @ 3/5/10 1:24 A peace March is only 1 of many things that folks are doing. If you were there you might have gotten a sense of that. I've been to at least a dozen or so over the years. The point is "YOU" attending these is a message to yourself as well as the community that all our citizens are important and not to be passed nonchalantly like roadkill on the highway. "We" make the difference, and as more of "us" tighten the boundaries of what we will tolerate our community continues to evolve toward our desired environment.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon @ 3/5/10 2:11 Respectfully we have probably all been through this, they are only kids, and we have to make those decisions on how to raise our kids, and in truth to a degree our neighbors kids as well. It is the action of each member in the community that defines overall tolerance. Personally, I will not let some 14 year old intimidate me, "It is my community as well" and I have just as much right, perhaps more to peace, quiet and safety for my family. I typically don't confront,I just call, might as well get some positive mileage out of those Tax Dollars!