KLEIN, GJONAJ & COMMUNITY GROUPS RALLY AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AT PELHAM PARKWAY HOUSES

May 27, 2016

Gun Violence
Community Involvement

Photo caption (l-r): Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Crystal Razer (Stand Up to Violence), Senator Jeff Klein, Minister Kwame Thompson (Stand Up to Violence), Joseph Thompson (49th Precinct Community Council), Lorraine Ritter (Pelham Parkway Houses Residents Council), State Committeeman Joe McManus, and Deacon Thomas Tortorella (St. Lucy's Church)

Bronx, NY — State Senator Jeff Klein (D- Bronx/Westchester), Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (D-Bronx), the Pelham Parkway Residents Council, and Stand Up to Violence (SUV) rallied against gun violence at the Pelham Parkway Houses after 17-year-old Ackeem Davis was fatally shot last week on Astor Avenue.

“We need to stop violence in its tracks and continue the fight to keep our streets safe for children and families. Today we march in solidarity against a senseless tragedy that took the life of Ackeem Davis. My condolences go out to his family. Through our march and the SUV program, we continue to send the message that guns do not belong on our streets,” said Senator Klein.

“What happened in Pelham Houses was a tragedy that could have been prevented. We need to do more to keep guns off the streets and out of the hands of our youths. My heart and prayers go out to Akeem Davis and his family,” said Assemblyman Gjonaj.

"We will absolutely not tolerate violence in our community," said Councilman Vacca. "I will be working closely with the 49th Precinct, the local community and other elected officials to offer support in dealing with these difficult issues. Nobody should fear for their safety when walking down the street. We must take a multifaceted approach in dealing with violence and crime in our neighborhood."

“This is such a sad and traumatic event. My deepest heartfelt sympathies to the family. I hope that in the coming months we have no more violence in our community,” said Lorraine Ritter, President of the Pelham Parkway Houses Residents Council.

“Everyone in the community is affected by gun violence and it is time for us to wake up and become aware of it. We thank Senator Klein for always taking a stance when we stand up to violence,” Minister Kwame Thompson, SUV Supervisor.

Over the past few years, Senator Klein has allocated over $1 million to Stand Up to Violence (SUV), which is a unique violence prevention program that deploys ‘credible messengers’ and ‘violence interrupters’ to mediate conflict in the community and help high-risk individuals in targeted, high-crime areas in The Bronx.

For more information on SUV, please call (718) 822-2049.

Print as PDF