Prayer Vigil for Joshua Brooks 3/16
Date: Wed, Mar. 16, 2011
This evening, we will gather at the crime scene where five teenagers were shot near midnight this past Saturday night. One of the teens, Joshua Brooks, lost his life. Joshua was 18 years old; the other victims are between 14 and 17 years old--both girls and boys. Alarmingly, the children had been gathered at the B&L Lounge on Port Street, a bar and restaurant. What they were doing there at the late hour is a question that bears some consideration. Already there have been calls to shut down the establishment for allowing minors in, or to re-instate a curfew for minors. These ideas should be explored. It is time to ask for accountability on everyone's part. Codes must be enforced, and businesses ready to forgo a dollar when it does not serve our young people. As disheartening as it is to watch young people make bad choices year after year, we cannot disengage, nor dismiss the violence as limited to certain groups or an internal matter that the broader community cannot impact. We--from law enforcement to small businesses to families and friends--can be accountable to the safety of our city, and we must.
Please join SilenceIsViolence and Pastor Jefferson and the Abundant Life Tabernacle church at 6pm this evening, near 1700 Port Street. We will memorialize Joshua and remember all victims of violence in New Orleans.
Peace Vigil
Wednesday, March 16, 6PM
1700 Port Street, at Derbigny
SilenceIsViolence is a campaign for peace in New Orleans with a mission to call upon both citizens and public officials to achieve a safe New Orleans across all communities. We engage youth in positive expressions and actions to counter the culture of violence. We demand respect for every life, and justice for every citizen in our city.
Through the Victim Allies Project, SilenceIsViolence works with victims of violence and their families to navigate the emotional, logistical, and criminal justice hurdles that follow a homicide. Learn more at www.silenceisviolence.org or by calling (504) 948-0917
