FLINT, MI -- Flint community organizers are asking city residents to join a 24-hour effort to engage youth and call for a ceasefire in the city after several teens have been shot in multiple shootings throughout the week.
Community organizers April Cook-Hawkins and Pastor Jeff Hawkins met with Flint residents in Ballenger Park Wednesday, Aug. 11, and asked them to join in a 24-hour community engagement effort from Friday, Aug 13 through Saturday, Aug. 14.
Residents will be split into groups in the north, south, east and west quadrants of the city. Local businesses can also get involved.
Many signed up at the Wednesday event, but anyone interested in joining Friday through Saturday can contact April Cook-Hawkins at 810-210-5045. Once numbers have been collected, anyone who signed up to join will be contacted and given a location to report to.
The call for a ceasefire is, in part, about showing young people that their neighbors care about them, Pastor Hawkins said. It’s also about telling youth who commit violent acts “we’re tired of this.”
“There are so many people in the city doing great things, so we commend that,” he said. “But what if we came together and did something for the entire city? What if everybody pooled their resources together and we all did something same time, same day.”
Three shootings in Flint this week have left four people dead and five others injured.
Related: Police identify 2 teens killed in shooting at Flint’s Broome Park
“It’s time to say enough is enough,” Pastor Hawkins said. “It’s not enough to just talk about it.”
Gun violence affects many people, April Cook-Hawkins said. Her 12-year-old brother was shot and killed in Flint.
Hawkins went to the crime scene after a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed shortly after 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10 in the 3400 block of King Avenue near Pasadena Avenue.
“This really touched home for me,” she said.
Community outreach is needed right now, she said, adding something needs to be done.
April Cook-Hawkins asked any businesses and residents able to help to join the 24-hour ceasefire.
Keyon Menifield Sr., said his kids have lost five friends in less than two years due to violence.
He doesn’t want to answer calls that come in at 5 a.m. in fear that it could be news another young person was killed.
Menifield Sr. said he helped raise many of the youth lost to gun violence in the city. They were his children’s friends. He called the murders “senseless.”
He said his own 15-year-old son was friends with the victim in Tuesday night’s shooting.
“They all grew up together and now they all killing each other,” Menifield Sr. said.
While admitting he is far from perfect, Menifield Sr. said he knows the solution starts at home.
“They got a lot of money, a lot of guns,” he said. “How is y’all allowing this in your house? When I was young I couldn’t bring nothing in the house. My mom used to strip search me -- everything. I couldn’t do nothin. I thought she was the worst in the world, but it saved my life.”
Robert Coburn recently moved back to Flint from Chicago.
He said the two cities are both facing a rise in gun violence.
It’s important to hold people accountable to their actions, Coburn said.
“I’ve lost countless of my family members to gun violence. To be honest with you, I can’t even count how many,” he said. “One summer I lost six family members and I say that to say it never ends unless we put an end to it -- the parents, the uncles, the pastors, everybody collectively working together.”
Tarnesa Martin, a Hurley Medical Center nurse and patient resource and community advocate, encouraged anyone who has lost a loved one to reach out to the Hurley Medical Center Trauma Recovery Center, a free resource to anyone in Genesee County.
The center provides support services including emergency stabilization, victim compensation support, employment resources, psychotherapy and legal and court assistance and accompaniment.
Additional information on the Trauma Recovery Center by calling 810-262-7340 or emailing tbryan1@hurleymc.com.
Martin said she has seen many gunshot victims come into the hospital. She has cried with family members of victims. Her son’s best friend dies of gun violence.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Martin said.
Read more on MLive:
15-year-old shot and killed in Flint
Public parks in Flint to close at 9 p.m. daily after overnight shootings leave 3 dead, 5 injured
Flint City Council gives mayor indefinite extension of violent crime emergency
2 teens dead, 4 injured in shooting at Flint’s Broome Park
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