In a rally organized by former State Senator Ernie Newton, hundreds of city residents Wednesday night marched from the East End to the City Hall Annex in response to the shooting death of 14-year-old Justin Thompson. “We have to do this as a community and parents,” Newton says. “We have to take our community back.” From the CT Post:
Teenage men, mothers whose children have been shot and killed on the city’s streets, babies in strollers, pre-teen girls–hundreds of them poured onto Stratford Avenue Wednesday night to rally against violence. The kind of senseless violence that led to the death of 14-year-old Justin Thompson Sunday.
Thompson was gunned down about 1 a.m. on Seaview Avenue while walking home with his friends after a sweet sixteen birthday party.
The group chanted, prayed and sang as it marched two miles from the East End Kitchen and Market to City Hall Annex across the river. Police escorted the mob in cruisers and on foot.
“This is our neighborhood,” said East End resident Tasha Corbin, 22.
Corbin said she’s never participated in a rally before. But she’s seen too many friends gunned down in recent years. When she heard about the march, she decided to join and try to stop the violence.
“Most of the people who have been getting killed we basically know. They’re the cool, popular kids in the neighborhood,” she said, adding, “The young people are getting tired of seeing their friends shot.”
www.ctpost.com/news/article/Hundreds-rally-in-city-after-teen-s-homicide-2474400.php
There are too many good kids falling through the cracks. These kids are many times very smart and skilled. We have to try harder and be more creative in getting them engaged and somehow showing them they have a chance to get meaningful employment. There used to be things like paper routes for 14-year-old kids. There used to be a Boys Club to hang out at. Maybe open up Pleasure Beach and open up the wonders of nature? We need better people to get involved with politics.
All I can say is “Way to go BEPO!” and “Way to go Ernie!”
I congratulate Mr. Newton for his successful efforts to rally the community to bring this tragedy to the attention of the administration.
Finch was there.
What happened? Nothing. Not one additional cop has been assigned to the patrol division. They have been redirected to the affected neighborhood but all that has done is take away protection from other parts of town.
What a dreadful situation we are in.
yahooy, that was nice you gave Mr. Newton credit.
Look, getting a rally or a protest together is great, but if Ernie really wants to get something done, get the people to help the police. Walking in a rally doesn’t really accomplish anything. Get the people in the neighborhoods to work with the police instead of turning a blind eye when something happens in front of them. Most people don’t care to get involved, that’s the real problem that needs attention.
Ernie was able to engage more folks for a common cause than I have seen engaged in Bridgeport in FOREVER. For this he deserves an “atta boy” and from me he will get one.
Thank you Ernie. You led a parade last night, and you were the first to speak to the City Council (at the Ordinance Hearing) last week. They did not hear you. They are deaf, for the most part, to fact, to tone, to common sense. But the Finch Kingdom is showing signs of wear and tear at the edges where State bodies and courts are reviewing facts and fiction regarding our City and “money issues” are popping up frequently to the dismay of the Royal Court.
All are invited, once again, to our one-hour session titled Bridgeport Finances 101, tonight at the North End Library, 6:00 PM. PowerPoint presentation to lay a framework as to how the system works (or doesn’t work and therefore fails the public). You get to ask questions, receive answers and state ideas for all to pursue, to get the City back on course through truly OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT governance. See you there! Time will tell.
Are you guys sure this wasn’t just face time for Ernie for a state senate run? It just seems to me Ernie wants to rally the troops to show the powers that be (Mario) he can muster votes come election time.
burman, let’s say you are right; what’s the problem?
Seriously. Not seeing a problem from this perch either. 🙂
burman, let’s say you’re wrong, let’s say on the list of people killed in the last 12-1/2 months 98% were either black or Latino surname, let’s just say maybe Ernie is tired and so is this entire city tired of kids dying and never reaching their full potential. These are children of God who for whatever reason are not in their mothers’ arms tonight.
I don’t think Ernie was running for office last night, I know Ernie was walking for mothers not having to experience the loss of a child. Children should bury their parents at a ripe old age, parents should never have to bury their children no matter what the situation. So please don’t make less of what happened last night and who did what they did for what reason, just wonder why you didn’t march last night, not why someone did.
Bridgeport desperately needs a newspaper willing to do an investigative piece on the gang violence in Bridgeport. This feud has been going back and forth for nearly 2 years. It is the Staq Boys vs the East Side Boys. Theses guys are starting off around the age of 13.
There is a host of issues here, lack of involved parenting, lack of positive outlets for youth, a brewing culture of acceptance to this behavior and a lack of BPD’s ability to solve crime and the State to prosecute.
The Crime Taskforce needs to clean house and recreational centers and job programs need to open in the city.