Caribbean L 14 ife, JANUARY 14-20, 2022
Monique Chandler-Waterman
Brooklyn residents continue
fight against gun violence
By Dawn Plummer
Recently several community residents
from East Flatbush, Canarsie
and parts of Central Brooklyn made
their way through the blistering cold
evening to continue to draw attention
to gun violence within their communities
at the Tropical Breeze Hall, on
Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The signs
and symbols of the holiday season
were reflecting that Christmas was
highly visible, and the children and
parents attending the event were in
full blast with the Christmas music,
various kinds of foods, and all kinds
of toys and games, but in the midst of
this festivity there were also moments
of somber reflections as community
advocate, Monique Chandler-Waterman
and some parents, all used
the opportunity to express the effect
that gun violence was having on the
communities, especially for those who
have lost loved-ones as a result of spiking
violence.
Ms. Chandler-Waterman noted that
gun violence has seriously impacted
the communities and their efforts for
the evening’s event was bringing more
attention to the violence. Taking it to
the forefront to let everyone become
more aware and give their support
to families of victims. The umbrella
organization, Mothers for Safe City,
had its representatives on site supporting
the work. “Take back their children
from the streets,” stated Natasha
Christopher, of Akeal Christopher
Community Center, in a call to parents.
Christopher lost her son to gun
violence when he was 14 years old. Ms.
Christopher stated that the “impact is
even more severe during this time of
the year.” She noted that gun violence
was on the rise in the community, and
that mental health illness was contributing
to the rise in gun violence.
The event was also organized to
help support parents and children living
in shelters and those living in temporary
housing. Maxine E. Lewis, a
mother who lost her 16-year-old child
to gun violence and was representing
the Carlton Locksley Bennett Foundation,
feels that the celebration during
the evening was one way to give the
children the opportunity to express joy
and to demonstrate that the holiday
season does reflect on a time of peace
and not the sound of guns. Both Ms.
Christopher and Ms. Lewis mentioned
that the stop the violence campaign
wass to show that the community
cared about the children.
New York State Assembly Member,
representing the 58th Assembly District,
in Brooklyn, Nick Perry called
once again for those attending to get
vaccinated to help fight against the
COVID-19. The Assemblymember said
that taking the vaccination was significant
and added to the safety of the
communities. Perry also joined the
call for the stop of gun violence in the
neighborhood. “We need you to help
us see the gun violence go away,” the
Assemblyman said. “Join with those
fighting and put guns away,” he said.
Hundreds of toys were given to the
children attending the event and in
full support for the stop of gun violence
and to help support the children
were over 20 local businesses and
community organizations all joining
forces to fight and put the violence
away disseminating information on
health and educational resources to
benefit residents of the communities.
WE REPAIR & BUILD COMPUTERS
Austin Air Purifiers • Air Conditioners
WITH COUPON ONLY. EXP. MARCH 31 2022
WE ARE OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY
36