by Ken Walker
Newarkers Celebrate Heritage, Protest Violence at Festival
May 29, 2007
The ??Star Ledger?? covers yesterday’s African American Heritage Festival: “Newark cultural celebration includes call to end violence”:http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-7/118032650427580.xml&coll=1. Along with the floats, dancers, drum lines and even sky divers, came a stern call to take back the city from violence.
Mayor Cory Booker sounded that theme in a speech before the parade stepped off that cited the progress black Americans have made through history as well as the challenges they still face.
“We must stop the epidemic that is breaking out in inner cities all over the state and all over America where black people are killing black people. We must end the violence,” Booker said, and recommit to business, entrepreneurial, education and mentoring activities.
Since Jan. 1, there have been 40 homicides recorded in New Jersey’s largest city, a statistic that could not be ignored, said the event’s chairman, Donald Bernard.
“It is unconscionable the number of murders in our community,” he said after the parade had ended. “It’s just not acceptable.” But beyond words, he said, officials have a “responsibility to speak out and follow it up with positive action,” like creating more jobs for residents. Much of the crime committed by youths, Bernard added, is an attempt to “survive by any means necessary.”
That reality makes it more difficult to reach those young people with a positive message, said John Dawson, 29, who lives in Newark and attended the parade. When adults chant “Enough is Enough,” Dawson said, “not a lot of kids are listening. We have to let them know what else is out there, and how important school is.”
