Mother of 3 Gunned Down

We are at war with those who possess these destructive instruments of terror and we are losing. We are calling on our City, State and Federal officials to come to our rescues and give the police dept the resources they need to ensure the safety of our women and children

“Strong men don’t cry.”  Brothers and Sisters, that is one of the biggest lies ever told. When Community Advocate, Tony Herbert called this reporter after midnight the morning of March 31st, I could feel his tears streaming through the receiver as he sadly announced yet another tragic death — this time a young mother of three, gunned down by a stray bullet on a Bedford Stuyvesant street.  27 year old Nancy  Williams was shot dead on Gates Avenue in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn — another senseless killing of an innocent bystander.  This young mother — never even reaching the prime of life, leaves behind a ten-year-old, an eight-year-old and an eight month-old baby girl, never to know her mother.

Once again, Tony Herbert stands in the rain, voicing unwavering outrage for yet another senseless killing of an innocent, and relentless determination to put a stop to these senseless murders.  Joining Tony Herbert were Nancy’s grandmother along with Community Advocate, Tony Forman,  Community Activist, Jeffrey Davis, members of the press, neighbors and community members.

Within less than a month a 16 year old was shot on the IRT subway line in Brooklyn, a few days later, a nine year old was shot by a stray bullet while doing her homework in her bedroom.  A thirteen year old aspiring basketball player was shot by foolish gun play, and a youth killed in Elizabeth NJ after gun fire erupted.

“How many more mothers and families are going to light candles at a location where their loved one took their last breath. How many more young folk are going to have to die before our legislators catch on that something has to done to occupy these teenagers time?” Herbert exclaimed as the rain continued to drench the gathering of community spectators, news reporters, and community advocates.  The question of the day, “Where are all of our politicians?  Who is going to stop this insanity?”

“We are at war with those who possess these destructive instruments of terror and we are losing. We are calling on our City, State and Federal officials to come to our rescues and give the police dept the resources they need to ensure the safety of our women and children,” Tony Herbert proclaimed.

While in front of the home of 13-year-old Marquis Perez, who was shot and killed while he and a friend were allegedly playing with a loaded gun, Wednesday March 19th, Herbert called on all State Funded, City Funded, and Federally Funded Youth Organizations to come out from behind their desks and get out into the streets to encourage the kids to come in and take advantage of the available resources. In addition Herbert will be working with local City and State lawmakers to pen The Gang Free Zone Act which is a bill that demands gang free zones, similar to the drug free zones, created in the 80’s, which made it a felony to jump, recruit, or threaten a youth to become a member of a gang. The zone encompasses public schools and the distance between the school and public transportation within a ½ mile radius of the school, City and State recreation, community centers and public housing.

Herbert and community leaders are also denouncing the slap in the face to our City and our Mayor with the negligent production of painted hand guns by companies who are profiting from the deaths in our Communities.

Herbert, who is also on the Bed-Stuy Safety Task Force, went on to declare, “We are at war with those who possess these destructive instruments of terror and we are losing. This is now turning into a lethal epidemic of disrespect for human life.  Innocent women and children AND MEN are falling victim to the senseless gun violence that is plaguing our communities far too often. We are calling on our City, State and Federal officials to come to our rescues and give the New York City Police Department the resources they need to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

“There are approximately 100 days left until school is out and children will have more time to be idle. This is a simple call to action for the leaders in ‘The Village’ to stand up and to engage in meaningful dialogue that will yield results before the summer arrives. We need Brooklyn parents to do their part, as well.  Unfortunately, there are some parents out here who are not involved and we need them to get involved.  But they also need to know that they have got a support mechanism in place to support them.”

Tony Herbert is giving a Central Brooklyn Youth Summit on April 19th at Boys & Girls High School located at 1700 Fulton Street off Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn, New York from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.  In addition to the various teen workshops available at the summit will be a roundtable think tank discussion on how we can help the youth in our community.  The Phenomenal Women Group will assist Tony in that initiative.  Everyone is invited to attend and to get involved.

“The primary goal of this call to action is to identify and acquire any and all resources that can be marketed to our youth in Central Brooklyn, that will either employ, engage, mentor or educate them to keep them busy, pre-occupied and out of harms way, while encouraging them to become productive citizens.  The mission here is to put an end to the senseless loss of our youth to mindless deeds that are occurring in part because of a lack of resources and programs that are geared towards promoting positive youth development.  We need to come up with a plan before the summer is upon us to prevent us from becoming guilty bystanders witnessing additional   Gun Violence,” Tony Herbert concluded.

Herbert and Community Leaders are also denouncing the slap in the face to our City and our Mayor with the negligent production of painted hand guns by companies who are profiting from the deaths in our Communities.

Tony Herbert and Tony Foreman will return today to lay a wreath and flowers for the family and bring food and other things the family may need.  Sam Dunston of Dekalb Funeral Services is assisting the family.  Dunston has been a staple and has fathered the community for over 50 years.

Brenda Jeanne Wyche, is Managing Editor for Harlem Business News.  If you have a solution, contact [email protected] .  Maybe we’ll talk.

To subscribe to or advertise in New York’s leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to [email protected]

Also visit out sister publications Harlem Business News www.harlembusinessnews.com and The Groove music magazine at www.thegroovemag.com

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *