Four people died by homicide within the first week of the year. But the Peace Walk was planned long before that, the mayor said, heralding a proactive stance that includes a re-entry program and the anti-violence unit, One Neighborhood Evolution.
“There’s a whole team of us that’s ready to bust it up with you,” said ONE’s newest member, Demaris Jones.
“If you’re not brave enough to say, ‘I don’t want to do it,’ run to somebody,” she said, inviting them to the Carnegie Center at Pacific Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where re-entry and anti-violence are headquartered.
“The doors are open, come on through,” Jones said. “We won’t run to your mom and tell her what you said. We won’t run to ACPD and tell (them) what you said, because we’re going to get you right there.”
Saturday’s walk started at O’Donnell Park and continued to City Hall where several spoke on the importance of coming together.
“The youth and seniors are our two most precious resources,” Mayor Marty Small said. “It’s important for them to know that this (violence) won’t be the norm in Atlantic City.”
Walking to City Hall, Imam Amin Muhammad said he thought about the 1980s, when he was among the destructive youths people were calling on to stop the violence.
“Many of us up here have lived it and made it through,” he told those gathered in the City Hall courtyard. “We all need to be examples to show them where you’re at doesn’t mean where you’re going to end up.
“We need to facilitate for them to go from a bad situation to a better situation,” he added, calling on those youth in trouble to “keep in mind that where you’re at today doesn’t define your tomorrow.”
Councilman George “Animal” Crouch said his message was for the young people ages 14 to 24.
“As president of the Atlantic City Dolphins for over 25 years, I buried too many players,” he said. “I worked recreation for the city of Atlantic City for 24 years. I’ve buried too many of the kids I coached and mentored.”
Crouch cautioned them to think before they act.
“Fifteen seconds of your life can cause you 30 years of your life,” he said. “If you don’t understand anything else, at least understand that. None of the things you are fighting for are worth it. You are more valuable to us here than in a grave.”
City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz said he was glad to see so many young people joining the march.
“They are the key to this message getting across and getting to every community,” he said. That we can live together in peace and that we must live together in peace and have the community of people working together.”
Police Chief James Sarkos said he was glad to see so many attend.
“I think that’s a testament to the commitment our residents have in ensuring that we all work together to end violence here in Atlantic City,” he said.
Keenon Simmons was on his first day as chief probation officer for Atlantic and Cape May counties.
“It is truly an honor to be with you here today,” he told the crowd, stressing the importance of probation working with the different group in the city.
“It is a holistic approach,” he said. “Probation understands you can’t tackle the gun violence issue alone.”
Kyshawn Wyman, who was recently honored by NYC Journal as “40 Under 40,” said he wants to help show the youth that “you don’t need to turn to drugs, you don’t need to turn to guns, you just have to turn in the right direction.”
“Sometimes the mentorships don’t happen at home,” he pointed out. “We’v got to step up as father figures. We have to step up as brothers. We have to step up as gentlemen in the community.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child,” he added. “The village is the city of Atlantic City.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone in the city or in the state, in the county that doesn’t want to make Atlantic City and Atlantic County safer,” said Assemblyman Don Guardian, a former Atlantic City mayor.
“Police alone, more rallies, more youth programs by itself isn’t solving the problem,” he said. “I think it’s everyone coming together. It’s certainly good to see so many young people at the walk today wanting to make the streets safer.”
“This is the first time but this is not going to be the last time,” Council President Sporty Randolph said. “We’re going to do everything we can to stop the violence.”
Jones called on parents to question their children.
“Stop being afraid of your children,” she said. “If he’s got a thousand bucks in his pocket and he’s 13 years old, you know what he’s doing.”
“It’s time for us to take the city back,” Jones added. “Our justice is our peace, we’re not killing nobody else in these streets. We’re done.”
