After shootings, city rallies against ‘disrespect for life’
After a week of grief and bloodshed on Boston streets, victims’ families and clergy are uniting this morning to share heartbreak and begin healing.
“We have to encourage people to get back to church because we are raising generations of young people who do not have God consciousness, and it is easy for them to have a disrespect for life,” said the Rev. William Dickerson of the Greater Love Tabernacle off Talbot Street — near where last month a 4-year-old boy was shot at Harambee Park.
Dickerson, who spoke at an anti-violence rally yesterday in Dorchester, said the community is struggling with the latest rash of violence, including four homicides in the span of five hours over the Fourth of July holiday.
Dickerson said he will address community healing by urging residents to reach out to youth and go to “unconventional places whereever people are to hear the messages of peace and anti-violence — be it the street corners, bar rooms or crack houses,” he told the Herald.
“We also have to let the law run its course for people who refuse to listen.”
Last night, Boston police identified the victims of Monday’s violent melee, including 17-year-old James Coakley who was killed outside his family’s home on Hollander Street; Dorchester cousins Lashon Washington, 39, and Joseph Winston, 26, who were gunned down on Columbia Road; and Victor Gomes, 33, of Randolph, who was slain on the steps of his grandmother’s house on Norton Street. Another man was killed Thursday night in Dorchester, but police have yet to identify him.
“I’ve been praying for everybody that’s going through this,” Saojoana Cardoso, 29, the mother of Gomes’ 7-year-old son, told the Herald after returning from Gomes’ funeral in Randolph yesterday.
“There is a need for this call for peace. They need to find a better way of helping people out here because it’s crazy and very scary just to walk by and just to be around a lot of areas,” she said. “My son is scared, and I don’t want him to worry, but every time he sees something or hears the police sirens or any arguments he starts to shake.”
Denise Williams, aunt of Washington and Winston, was among 100 people at yesterday’s peace rally.
“People are seriously tired, and the powers that be should be aware,” said Williams. “What I saw today here, I know that it’s the beginning. I knew that something good would come out of Lashon and Joey’s death I just didn’t know what. But I feel and see it’s the beginning of a movement.”
Police encourage anyone with information about the recent crimes to contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 800-494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1350779
