DAVID SEPULVEDA PHOTOS
The call went out for “1,000 men” to march through city neighborhoods. Some 30 showed up — and raised 1,000 men’s worth of spirit as they walked a 3.5 mile route through city neighborhoods to bring a message of peace to the steps of City Hall.
The march began at Dixwell and Bassett in Newhallville. As marching time approached, loud music blared from giant speakers under a WYBC radio banner. Rally organizer and founder of “Guns Down, Books Up”Raymond Wallace (at left in photo) spoke about the cost of apathy: “When the neighborhood sees all these guys coming out-all these different colors, races, religions, that’s very powerful, that can send a message that we’re not having this anymore, that we’er going to change our city. But when you only get two or three guys coming out, they just brush you to the curb. I think it’s very sad, and they wonder why the city is in turmoil.”
Mayor Toni Harp showed up and buoyed the marchers’ spirit. “These are men who are committed to the young people in our community who want to stop the violence. I want them to partner with us, with the city, to do all that we can to make sure this is a safe city for our young people to grow up in,” she said. Two other elected officials, state Sen. Gary Holder-Winfield and state Rep. Robyn Porter, marched the 3.5 miles with the group, Porter often leading the chant of “Guns down — Books up!”
Walking from Newhallville to the Hill neighborhood before venturing to City Hall, the marchers were cheered on periodically by folks on their porches or just walking by. One escort, Officer Brian Pazsak, who patrols in the Newhallville neighborhood, at one point used his police bullhorn to exhort a group of young people on Congress Avenue who had momentarily joined in the marchers’ chants. “Why don’t you join the march with that good voice?” he said, surprising those within earshot.
Marchers were focused on their collective message of unity and the need to reach the city’s young people with their message. Dean Howard (pictured with Mayor Harp higher up in this story), who runs the JHOP Transition House in New Haven and helped organize the rally, said he attended to support change, citing his own history as a one-time homeless person and drug abuser. Howard said that nearly losing his children to the state was a wake-up call that began his climb back as a responsible father. He said he wants to help others overcome their difficult situations.
David Canton, associate professor of history at Connecticut College, said he brought his son to the rally to show support and to highlight notions about manhood: “Particularly after this Ray Rice thing.” Canton noted that manhood is more than about physical force: “It’s also about being men who are strong in our community, showing our relationships, love, community and organization.”
Marcher Brian Sams (left in picture) of Lombard Street said he was marching to raise community consciousness about the ills plaguing the city and to drive home a point about apathy: “There are people who are sitting on the sidelines hoping for change, but are not willing to put any skin in the game.”
A father of three, Eddie Randall (pictured with arm raised) of Brookside, said he had three close high-school friends die before age 24. Randall noted the importance of instilling positive male values to young people: going to school, working hard, having respect for elders and the community.
Brandon Hicks (center) of Goodyear Street, a recovering addict, said that he was marching to make a change in our streets: “Our youth are dying. We have lost a generation and are on our way to losing another one.” Hicks said change came about for him when he got tired of following a route that ended with either “jail, institutionalization or death.”
Traveling from Stamford to attend the rally with his son was Pearce Bassett, who said, “You have to teach your kids to follow the positive things. This rally is a positive thing.”
In a post to social media after the rally, organizer Wallace mused about the rally: Some say they didn’t know, but somehow know about all the parties going on. To me it doesn’t matter if two came out, it was still a success and it didn’t break my spirits. I will continue to do what God has sent me to do. I respect the brothers out there doing their thing to better the city an I hope we can change the city to a positive environment for all.”