Youth, clergy, others denounce Hartford violence in one voice. ‘We can do better’
The message was loud and clear from young city residents: The violence that has robbed lives and created widespread sorrow and fear here must end.
Youth, clergy and residents shared that message as they joined this week to denounce the number of lives lost to violence in the city to date this year, and ask that the Hartford Police Department and elected officials do more to combat the ongoing issue.
Some of the recent incidents of deadly violence in the city included the killing of a rising senior of Bulkeley High School, who was shot multiple times after three people reportedly forced their way into her apartment on Maple Avenue, and on April 20, 12-year-old Se’Cret Pierce, a seventh-grade student at Milner Middle School in Hartford, was fatally shot in the head during a drive-by quadruple shooting, and two 14-year-old boys showed up to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center July 23 with gunshot wounds as police were investigating reports of gunfire on Westland Street just before 4 a.m.
There have been at least 20 deadly shootings in the city so far this year, down from the 22 reported by this point in 2022.
While violence touches many residents, youths who joined the adults to address it said it impacts their safety.
Resident Elijah Bailey, 16, said that he has witnessed and experienced violence throughout his life. He also said that hearing the shootings talked about on the radio has been difficult for him.
“My siblings, their bus stop is down (the road)…but they can’t walk there by themselves. This is kind of messed up that the people in this community don’t get to enjoy the same situations as others,” he said.
Bailey said he is grateful to be a part of the Blue Hills Civic Association summer youth program. He and 60 other youths in the program joined the clergy and other residents to get the word out about stopping the violence in the city.
“I feel like the main cause of gun violence is lack of education. I would like to see more and more productive schools opened up in Hartford, better education. Better predicaments. Less poverty, less gun violence, less having to steal,” he said.
Bailey said he is pleased that Blue Hills Civic Association is giving local teenagers like himself something positive to do during the summer, noting that if more youth were given similar opportunities like those in program, then things would get better for the city.
He said his advice for young people who might be considering poor choices is: “Don’t be afraid to make the right decision. Sometimes it’s hard, as you don’t want to lose friends. But once you make the right decisions, the right people” will come.
Malik McDonald, another local teen participating in the Blue Hills Civic Association Summer Youth Program, also said he happy to be in the program, as he is able to conduct research in the parks and get feedback from the local community.
“It feels good to be a part of the positive (change),” he said.
Walk In The Light Church Archbishop Dexter Burke said he sees Black and brown lives lost in the north end of Hartford, and believes police could do more to provide an atmosphere of safety and security to residents and visitors alike.
“While residents have a responsibility to report criminal elements, and enterprises to the police, it is the police’s duty to form genuine and mutually beneficial relationships that would enable residents to feel comfortable in providing information and concerns that directly affect your neighborhood,” he said. “Residents are reluctant in providing information to police, not because the officers are bad, but because the programs and policies of the police department traditionally been in conflict with the interests, rights and treatments of minorities.”
He said he believes that if the shootings were happening in neighboring towns, the response by law enforcement would have been significantly different.
Burke said he believes the city could look at new strategies, policies and practices, such as block watches, incentive programs, checkpoints and more, to protect residents from “criminal elements” and end the “blatant disregard for human life.”
“The powers that be must introduce and support these programs, if they are really serious at stamping out crime in communities of color,” he said.
About people involved in the violence within the city, Burke said, “To the parents and friends of those involved in crime, advise them to chart a new course in life and become responsible, law abiding citizens or you will weep at their funerals.
“We all have a role to play. Let’s do our part, but also hold officials accountable to ensure that they are delivering on our behalf of (people) of color. They have failed us and it’s time that our community stand up and demand results and accountability from our police department and law officials,” he said.
A message seeking comment was left with the police department spokesman. Mayor Luke Bronin has said, while noting the violence is “incredibly painful for our community, that police “are out there every day working to take illegal guns off the street, preventing acts of violence and bringing closure to the community wherever they can by bringing to justice those responsible for violence.”
in a recent operation, the department said it seized five guns along with 738 grams of fentanyl, 595 grams of cocaine, 121 grams of crack cocaine, seven pounds of marijuana, and nearly $140,000 in cash.
Blue Hills Civic Association Lead Community Organizer Kelvin Lovejoy said the community needs more action, from public officials and residents.
“We have to make our community a safe and decent place to live. Our young people who are with us today are involved in summer programs. You know, summer programming has helped families provide safe and active engagement for young people for many years,” he said. “But many times, those dollars get cut. And when those dollars get cut, we see our young people finding nefarious ways of engaging in their community. We stand today, with our clergy, with our residents, with our parents to say that we can do better.”