Walk Of Remembrance
Two young marchers on the steps of Borough Hall
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Hundreds of community members marched yesterday from Mahoney Park in Staten Island’s New Brighton neighborhood to Borough Hall, the seat of local government. Their cause: putting a stop to the violence that claims the lives of young people. The event, called a “Walk of Remembrance in Honor of Youth Lost to Senseless Violence”, was organized by local community activists and clergy.
A number of participants wore t-shirts with the photos of the fallen — including 17-year-old Najea Smith, a nursing student who was fatally shot in May.
A brief program at Mahoney Park featured a welcome from Sernea Mohamed, a reading of Maya Angelou’s poem “StillI I Rise” by David Raso and a prayer led by Reverend Tony Baker of St. Philips Baptist Church.
The march route took the long column down busy Richmond Terrace, along the Kill van Kull, to Staten Island’s Borough Hall opposite the Ferry Terminal. Community Affairs police and corporate news media looked on as the steps of Borough Hall filled with marchers.
Progressive Democrat Steve Harrison at the march
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
The marchers were joined by progressive politicians Debi Rose and Steve Harrison. Rose is running for City Council and Harrison is running for Congress (NY-13). Harrison, who lives in Brooklyn, faces a September 9th primary against pro-war Democrat Mike McMahon. McMahon, who lives on Staten Island’s North Shore, was not at the event.
Concluding the event, family members who have lost loved ones and community activists spoke at Borough Hall.
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Original post by Thomas Good and reposted by Radical Blogs
