When it comes to addressing gun violence in New Haven, the time for talk is over. It’s now time to act, by taking ownership of the problem.
That message came out of a meeting of 50 African-American community leaders on Wednesday evening. Although the theme emerged during two hours of talking, Pastor Donald Morris ended the gathering with a promise of imminent action.
Morris is the head of the Christian Community Commission’s Brotherhood Leadership Summit, one of several city organizations represented at the meeting. He and others organized the meeting in response to a recent spate of violent crime in the city, including two murders since the beginning of the new year and a shooting by a 13-year-old boy. The event followed a similar gathering last month at City Hall.
“We cannot sit around and make gun violence part of the norm in our city,” Morris said at the start of the meeting. “This is the action phase.”
One after another, meeting participants spoke about the need for members of the black community to take ownership of problems in their neighborhoods, and not to wait for police or city government to end violence.
“You can’t expect someone to come into your own house and straighten out your own family,” said Pastor John Lewis. “I just point it right back at us.”
Alderwoman Jackie James-Evans encouraged people to take part in City Hall hearings and meetings about issues like the city budget.
City cop and youth worker Shafiq Abdussabur emphasized the importance of working with young people.
Morris ended the meeting by presenting a new committee, composed of eight to 12 leaders, including Abdussabur and James-Evans, along with activists, church leaders, and State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield.
The committee will be coming up with an agenda and a strategy — including a media roll-out — to address gun violence in the city, Morris said.
Morris asked the committee members present to stand. “Take a look,” he said to the room. “The next time you see us we’ll be surrounded by cameras.”
“No more talking,” Morris said after the meeting. “We’ve heard everybody now.”
The meeting concluded with a prayer circle.
