Crime

Both Sides of the Gun: A Hard Conversation

THE TENNESSEE TRIBUNE — The end of March and the beginning of April were as volatile as the season change itself… Six shootings in the space of 72 hours. Two of the dead, a mother and son. The senselessness of it all; sadly a precursor to a discussion already in the works: a discussion sponsored by Project GRAD about gun violence.

Published

5 years ago

April 17, 2019

Vivian Underwood Shipe

By Vivian Shipe

KNOXVILLE, TN — The end of March and the beginning of April were as volatile as the season change itself… Six shootings in the space of 72 hours. Two of the dead, a mother and son. The senselessness of it all; sadly a precursor to a discussion already in the works: a discussion sponsored by Project GRAD about gun violence.

The statistics presented by moderator Lakenya Middlebrook were shocking.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) Tennessee is number eleven in the nation for gun deaths. In Tennessee, there are 15 per every 100,000 who die from a gun yearly. Nationwide, there are 100 gun deaths every day. A large number of these are youth and one young man in Knoxville felt moved to express his views and feelings about the effect of these deaths on film.

T’zion Fears-Perez is a tenth grader at Austin-East High School. He created a stark, thought provoking documentary that looks at the effects of gun deaths on family, and community from both the victims side and the alleged perpetrator side. “Both Sides of the Gun”, was created entirely on his phone and the results sparked a very deep and real community discussion.

A diverse group of citizens, leaders, educators, and many others listened as grief counselor Wraquel Brown who works with the students at Austin-East and OBC pastor Daryl Arnold, who has buried many of the young people killed in the last few years; weighed in on the questions asked.

Film sparking community discussion (Photo by: Vivian Shipe)

Among the issues discussed were:

The guilt and shame of the families of the shooter, along with the isolation and embarrassment they felt.

The forgotten ones, the siblings of both sides who don’t know how to grieve and the lasting effect on their lives.

The need for acceptance of the fact that Jesus AND therapy are needed. Pastor Arnold reminded the audience that many look to the Pastor to provide all the answers and that is not realistic. He said the stigma of getting professional help must be eradicated.

The need for FREE counseling. Many in the community can not afford to pay counselor fees to help them in the grief process.

The division caused in the community when both victim and shooter were well known and the pain when no one will come forth to say who did it in an unresolved case.

The CDC has officially called gun violence a health epidemic and the panel discussed the need prevention and intervention funding on a level large enough to make a difference .

In closing Ms. Brown remarked the shootings leave unresolved trauma upon a community and Middlebrook said “unaddressed trauma will manifest itself again and again in a negative way.

Pastor Arnold made the observation as the conversation closed that one side of the gun ask for justice while the other side of the gun asks for mercy.

To view the documentary and to help start a conversation in your area, contact Ronni Chandler at Project GRAD or Counselor Wraquel Brown at forgetyounottn@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared in The Tennessee Tribune.

Vivian Underwood Shipe

Posts by Vivian Underwood Shipe

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Bay Area

Justice for Henry Texada

Henry Texada was known as a leader, a role model, godfather, and a friend to all. He enjoyed mentoring younger members of his family and participants at the Boys and Girls Club. He was always giving and present in the lives of others with a kind word or suggestion. Henry used the skills gained at Youth Radio as a digital media photographer to inspire others. He wanted to learn as much as he could to be a supportive person for youth, so he enrolled at Laney College for the fall of 2020 for classes in Early Childhood Development. He was killed when several people exited a 2020 silver Nissan Armada and shot him around 2 p.m. on April 28, 2020, on 68th Avenue in East Oakland.

Published

10 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Henry Texada was 23 when he was slain in 2020. Courtesy photo.

Family Seeks Justice for Murdered Son on Fourth Anniversary of His Death

Special to The Post

Henry used the skills gained at Youth Radio as a digital media photographer to inspire others. He wanted to learn as much as he could to be a supportive person for youth, so he enrolled at Laney College for the fall of 2020 for classes in Early Childhood Development.

He was killed when several people exited a 2020 silver Nissan Armada and shot him around 2 p.m. on April 28, 2020, on 68^th Avenue in East Oakland. Police were able to recover the vehicle, which had been rented in Reno, Nev., but have been unable to solve the case.

Henry’s senseless murder continues to deeply impact his loved ones who are suffering from his loss.

“I hate the phrase passed away or died,” his mother says. “My son, Henry, was very protective of me, and we had a bond that could not be broken. I miss him so much.

“I hate April 28th because I feel Henry should be here, because he had a purpose helping others and working with youth. He was physically strong and had a plan, goals, and dreams. Henry had a smile that would light up the room. He is a wonderful son, brother, and uncle.”

“Instead of imploring you for information and help, I should be telling you about all the things he has achieved and all the people that he touched,” his mother said. “But instead, here I am praying for justice because a person who would take the shirt off his back for others was murdered.

“There is no word to describe this everyday pain for me. I expect him to text me at any moment because his favorite saying was “don’t say bye, say see you later.” It’s four years later and I can’t physically hold him,” his mother comcluded.

The Family Support Advocates join with Henry Texada’s grieving family and loved ones in their pursuit of justice. Anyone in the community with information about Henry’s murder is asked to contact the Homicide Section of the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at (510) 238-7950. CrimeStoppers of Oakland is offering a reward for an arrest in this case. #JusticeforHenry.

FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCACY TASK FORCE

The mission of the Family Support Advocacy Task Force, a committee of the Violence Prevention Coalition, is to advocate for local, state and federal policies and legislation to enhance and expand support to families and friends of those who experienced violence; for more compassionate and transparent communication between law enforcement, the district attorney with the family of homicide victims and to push for the elimination of all violence, but particularly gun violence and homicides.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Calif. Anti-Sex Trafficking Advocates Discuss Competing Bills, Strategies

Advocates from across California are challenging state officials and community leaders to support legislation that provides resources and services for survivors and victims of human trafficking, as well as assistance as they transition back into civil society.  Some of those advocates are also calling for more effective state policy to curtail trafficking, a crime that has an outsized impact on Black children, particularly girls.

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Some of those advocates are also calling for more effective state policy to curtail trafficking, a crime that has an outsized impact on Black children, particularly girls.

According to the FBI, a report covering a two-year period found Black children accounted for 57% of all juvenile arrests for prostitution. In addition, 40% of sex trafficking victims were Black and 60% of those victims had been enrolled in the foster care system.

“It is time to hold the perpetrators who take advantage of our children accountable,” said the Rev. Shane Harris, a San Diego-based activist, former foster youth and founder of the Peoples Association of Justice Advocates, (PAJA), a national civil rights organization and policy think tank.

“It is time to send a thorough message that if you seek to buy a child for sex, you will pay the highest criminal penalties in this state,” added Harris who was speaking at a rally at the State Capitol earlier this month. Harris was speaking in support of Senate Bill 1414, authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (D-Bakersfield), which calls for people who buy sex from minors to be punished with a felony. The punishment includes a two-year prison sentence and a $25,000 fine.

Harris said the PAJA is the only civil rights organization in the state that supports SB 1414.

Harris urged other Black-led groups who favor anti-trafficking legislation more focused on criminal justice reforms (as opposed to stiffer penalties), to “join the movement.”

Many of those civil rights groups fear that SB 1414 could lead to the incarceration of more Black youth.

Those sentiments were echoed in a panel discussion organized by Black women advocates on April 26 to examine the cause and effects of human trafficking in California’s Black communities. The virtual event was hosted by the Forgotten Children, Inc, a faith-based nonprofit that advocates for survivors and victims of human trafficking through anti-trafficking campaigns and initiatives.

Panelists shared the psychological impact of sexual exploitation on youth and children in the long term.

Author and educator Dr. Stephany Powell shared statistics and information revealing that African American women and girls are the most trafficked nationwide.

Powell, who serves as the senior advisor on law enforcement and policy at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said that national data indicates that sex trade survivors are disproportionately women of color. She stated that male survivors often go unnoticed because boys rarely report trafficked crimes.

Powell said that decriminalizing prostitution in California could increase human trafficking. She argued that Senate Bill 357, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), which was signed into law in 2022 and legalized loitering for prostitution, caused a surge in street-level prostitution.

Panelist and psychologist Dr. Gloria Morrow shared opposing views on decriminalizing prostitution. She said that decriminalizing prostitution could help survivors gain access to state resources and support.

Despite opposing views, Powell and Morrow agree that the Black community needs resources and educational programs to address human trafficking.