WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A new group took to Black Lives Matter Plaza to spread the word that violence among Black people needs to stop.
The organization called “No Black-On-Black Crime Movement” held the first of a few weekend events Friday in D.C. to highlight the violence plaguing Black communities.
So far, the District has 250 homicides, the largest jump in 20 years, with 159 unsolved homicides – most of whom are Black men and women and youth killed by Black assailants, authorities said.
D.C. Public Schools teacher Ebony Anderson said she has seen scores of Black students fall to gun violence.
“We’re tired of our kids dying. We’re tired of it,” she said. “I’m tired of getting messages in and texts across my phone saying that such and such got killed last night or shot. It’s becoming ridiculous.”
Keith Turner, creator of No Black-On-Black Crime Movement, said he has put his own money and effort to try and push this movement to drive the discussion to end the violence.
“It’s not just hope. I believe, I really believe that we can put a huge dent into Black on Black crime,” Turner said. “If we can put a huge dent in it this year, then I know that we can do a significant damage to it next year.”
Terrance Calvert was handed a brochure by a movement member while driving through the plaza. He said the effort to stop the Black-on-Black violence is important and needed.
“I feel it’s vital in that it needs to be addressed,” he said. “Not just Black on Black but crime in general.”
Turner, who has lost several relatives due to violence, said that he hopes this work to address the issue resonates with others.
“Of course it hurts me because members of my family were murdered and it wasn’t over drugs,” he said. “I have to fight. I can’t sit back and say ‘somebody has to do something.’ Who am I waiting for? The somebody is you. The somebody is me.”
