Latest news with #anti-violence
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Philadelphia police, firefighters join anti-violence activists for "Peace Not Guns" basketball game
Members of the Philadelphia Police Department traded their badges for basketballs Wednesday night to help promote "peace not guns" for kids this summer. The competition was high for the Peace Not Guns Memorial Basketball game featuring the Philly Ballers — a team comprised of members of the police and fire departments, the sheriff's office and SEPTA police — vs. the Real Brothers Basketball League, a community anti-violence group. The event featured a three-point contest along with five-on-five hoops. City Council President Kenyatta Johnson started anti-violence initiative Peace Not Guns in 1998 following the murder of his cousin. "If they are not involved in things that are positive during the summer, during the time when school is out, they get involved in things that are negative," Johnson said. Albert Custis is the coach for the Real Brothers Basketball League, which hosts games for kids and adults throughout the week at 20th and Tasker streets. "The basketball league (has been) going on for 10 years — no shootings, no fights, no nothing," Curtis said. This event at Vare Rec Center is just feet from the site of a mass shooting that killed three people and left nine injured on July 7 along South Etting Street. For Commissioner Kevin Bethel, events like this were an integral part of his childhood and now a way to help break the cycle of violence in his city. "I'm a byproduct of the neighborhood, I'm a byproduct of Sherwood Rec Center and a PAL kid," Bethel said, "and I tell people all the time this is what got me out of the neighborhood." And no matter the score, everyone's goal was the same: Pick up basketballs, not guns, making everyone on this court a winner.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged gang shooting at Boynton Beach anti-violence rally leads to arrest of man, 19
A 19-year-old Boynton Beach man is facing criminal charges after police alleged he was involved in a July 5 shooting that wounded three people during an anti-violence rally at Sara Sims Park. Jamarion Petty is facing one count each of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and discharging a firearm in public. During a hearing on July 13 at the Palm Beach County Jail, Circuit Judge Gregory Keyser assigned Petty a public defender and ordered that he be held without bail. As a policy, the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on open cases. Investigators say Petty fired shots from a small handgun during an apparent exchange of gunfire between rival gang members after hundreds had gathered for a "Peace in the Hood" rally at the park, off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard west of North Seacrest Boulevard. About 500 people attended the rally, including three women who sustained gunshot wounds when they were caught in crossfire, police said. Records show the event was not sanctioned and that city officials had denied the organizer's request for a permit in June. In court: Therapist sues PBSO, says she was left for dead as deputies debated entering rapist's home During a news conference at the park on July 11, an attorney for one of the shooting victims criticized the city's handling of the event, saying it had a duty to protect attendees even if the event was unsanctioned. The attorney, Richard Ryles of West Palm Beach, announced a pending lawsuit on behalf on Diamond Delk, who reportedly was shot in her left hip and suffered a fractured leg during the incident. "The city of Boynton has an ultimate responsibility for maintaining its property in a safe condition and they failed to do that," Ryles said during the news conference. In a statement provided by a police spokesperson, Boynton Beach disputed whether the shooting occurred on city-owned property. "The gathering that preceded the shooting was not organized, or sanctioned by the City of Boynton Beach or the City of Boynton Beach Police Department," the statement read. "While individuals may have been in the vicinity of Sara Sims Park, the initial investigation shows the shooting occurred outside the boundaries of City-owned property, not within the park itself." Measles in Florida: Doctors urge vaccinations, saying South Florida's two cases could grow According to Petty's arrest report, surveillance-camera video captured members of two groups — the "16th Ave Boys" and the "Cherry Hill Boyz" — in the vicinity of the park moments before the shooting. One group stood next the fence on the south side of the park, while the other was across the street near a church. The two group's acknowledged each other's presence before parties on both sides retrieved firearms from their waistbands and began shooting at each other, the report said. One man could reportedly be seen running north through the park as he fired shots to the south, in the direction of the church. Using investigative leads, police tentatively identified the man as Petty, the report said. On July 12, Petty voluntarily went to the police station after seeing himself in a "Be on the Lookout" alert. He told investigators he attended the rally by himself and drew his weapon after hearing gunfire. However, he was adamant that he did not fire the weapon, police said. Investigators then showed surveillance video that purportedly Petty discharging a firearm as he ran with another person. Petty disputed the clarity of the video and stated that he did not believe the person in the video was him, police said. He then requested an attorney, according to his arrest report. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Man, 19, faces charges after shooting at Boynton anti-violence rally
The Independent
13-06-2025
- The Independent
Anti-knife crime campaigners being honoured vow to continue fight
Anti-knife crime campaigners who have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours have vowed to continue to tackle the scourge. Pooja Kanda has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) following her tireless campaign for changes in the law after her 16-year-old son Ronan was murdered with a ninja sword yards away from his Wolverhampton home. Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Kanda said she was 'grateful' and 'overwhelmed' by the honour following the death of her son in June 2022. The 48-year-old said: 'The day I heard about the OBE, I held his picture. I shed tears. 'I know that the OBE is in my name, but this is for my son. 'I'm only here because of who he was. He was such a kind, loving, caring, not a son, not a brother, a human being, a person who everyone loved.' Meanwhile, mother and daughter duo Alison Madgin, 60, and Carly Barrett, 34, have become Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), also for services to the prevention of knife crime. Ms Madgin's daughter Samantha Madgin was a new mother of 18 years of age when she was stabbed to death in Wallsend in 2007. Her son was just 68 days old when she died. The two told PA their honours are 'bittersweet'. Ms Barrett, who was only 16 years old when her sister was murdered, said: 'We've had to lose Samantha to get these honours. 'It was her I wanted to tell.' They set up Samantha's Legacy, a community interest company, in 2019 and have since given talks to young people across the north east of England about the dangers of carrying knives. Ms Kanda said she was driven to campaign after witnessing the trial of her son's killers, who attacked the 16-year-old in a case of mistaken identity. They had been able to buy knives without identity checks. 'During that court case, the revelation each day was: how is this possible?' Ms Kanda said. 'How? How on earth are these types of weapons still available? 'No wonder my son didn't stand a chance.' Ms Kanda and her family began the Justice For Ronan Kanda campaign after his death and have since advocated for changes in the law around the sale of knives. She said one of Ronan's killers had been able to get weapons online 'as easily as getting bread and milk'. The Kanda family's campaigning has already achieved one of its goals – the passing of Ronan's Law which will make it illegal to own, sell, make or import ninja swords in the UK from August 1. Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East, Ronan's constituency, thanked Ms Kanda and her family for their efforts when the law was approved in Parliament on April 30. But for Ms Kanda, there is still 'so much to do'. 'This is just one fight for me,' she said. 'There were many failures that I endured, and many failures need to be turned into learnings.' Ms Barrett said becoming an MBE has given her 'fire to go and do more'. Her mother Ms Madgin said: 'For all the victims who haven't got a voice, we are here for them, because a lot of victims can't be as outspoken as what we may be.' Ms Barrett added: 'We don't do it to be recognised, but it gives us that little bit more strength and inspiration to carry on.'
CBS News
17-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
"Prayer on the 9" holds 15th annual anti-violence march on Chicago's South Side
Thousands of people marched down 79th Street on the South Side of Chicago on Saturday for an anti-violence prayer march. New Live Covenant Church Southeast has been hosting "Prayer on the 9" for the past 15 years, but this year was special. On Saturday, the church tore down the sign of an old liquor store at 79th and Cottage Grove. It was a corner known for attracting a lot of violence in years past. The church purchased the building a few months ago, and is now turning it into a grocery store and medical center, calling it "Corner of Life." It was a big moment after 15 years of prayer.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal spending cuts threaten vital anti-violence program in Camden
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The Brief Community members marched after cuts are made to crucial violence prevention programs in Camden. The Trump administration cancelled $3 million worth of funding from the Center of Family Services. This is heartbreaking for Camden. CAMDEN, N.J. - Camden's leadership and supporters of a community group say a cut in federal funding has threatened an anti-violence program credited with lowering crime. What we know Chanting and waving signs, Camden activists marched along city streets in protest. Raising her voice, Maria Hernandez, working to end street violence, after she lost the father of her daughter 12 years ago in a shooting in front of their Centerville, Camden home. Hernandez said, "The streets you know, they're just the streets. You are not going to get anything out of them. You lose a lot when it comes to the streets - things you're not ever able to get back." For nine years, Hernandez has walked Camden's streets working to intervene in violence for Cure4Camden a community-based group. Now, city leaders say the program is threatened by a nearly $3 million cut in federal grant funding by Donald Trump's Justice Department. Dig deeper Louis Cappelli is Camden County Commissioner Director. He said, "One his [Donald J. Trump] trips, one of his weekly trips to Mar-a-Lago, the cost of that could pay for this program. One trip, could pay for this program for 30 years." Supporters argue efforts like this have helped Camden push its crime rate to "A 50-year low" with steep drops in homicides and shootings. It's done through weekly group sessions and peer mentoring. U.S. Justice did not immediately return a request for comment. Cure4Camden said it received an April 22nd. e-mail stating the funds, "…no longer effectuates Department priorities…" What they're saying Anna Payanzo Cotton is with the Center for Family Services. She said, "The abrupt stop in federal funding is devastating. It has caused a loss in their partnerships with peer mediators and staff deployment." Activists say they're seeking replacement funding, trying to save jobs, as they look to the streets with deep concern. Maria Hernandez said, "If we can't get in contact with them and help them navigate, help mediate situations, our crime rate is going to spike-back-up."
