UTM Unites Gun Violence
The Yonge Street shootings on boxing day resulted in the death of 15-year-old Jane Creba. Six others were injured.
Frustrated with the escalating gun violence in Toronto, university students have decided to take measures into their own hands in the wake of the deadly Boxing Day shootings. In a gathering at City Hall to condemn the fatal shooting of Jane Creba, Toronto Youth leaders issued a plea for peace and introduced unprecedented strategies for young people to do their part in the fight to eradicate gun-related crime and violence.
University of Toronto student Kofi Hope, founder of the university-based Black Youth Coalition Against Violence, created quite a buzz with the media when he unveiled the anti-gun initiative known as B.L.I.N.G. - Bring Love In, Not Guns. The coalition comprised of many campus groups believes solutions lie not in harsher sentencing and more policing, but in re-investments and support in social programs for young people.
Speaking to reporters at City Hall, Hope blamed alienation facing black youth for the recent rise in gun violence and called on the government to help address the deeper social issues affecting the community.
"We need to help them get a strong sense of identity, community, self esteem, self worth, and, most importantly, defeat the sense of alienation that's been taking control and making them feel like they're outsiders in their own communities," he said.
"We need to help them get a strong sense of identity, community, self esteem, self worth, and, most importantly, defeat the sense of alienation that's been taking control and making them feel like they're outsiders in their own communities," he said.
Also, the recent coverage of the Boxing Day shooting has left some questioning the media for what they see as a disproportionate emphasis on cases in which victims of gun violece are white.
Tanya Ferguson, student at the University of Toronto, took the media to task saying that "the media and general public has responded with a special urgency and regret to the shooting of the young white woman. In the case of young black men, however, there's a constant suggestion that innocent victims are somehow involved in criminal activity that led to their death. This is an unfair and racist tendency of the media and I'm worried that we might fall into this."
The Black Youth Coalition Against Violence (BYCAV) will present the B.L.I.N.G. Summit: Black Youth Stand Up! on January 28th at the University of Toronto. The BLING summit will be a venue for Black youth from high school, college, university and the working world to come together and mobilize with their allies in taking actions against violence in their communities.
Shaila Kibria, vice president of equity for the council and part of the newly formed B.L.I.N.G. committee, has called on community groups dealing with youths to join in their efforts and is urging everyone to attend the forum.
"I'm making a special plea to schools in the area to come out to the summit and to all the schools in this area. We need to meet, and need to stop this violence!"she added.
Fatima Sheikh, founder of The Erindale College African Students Association, who has also joined the coalition, expressed concerns with the recent violence.
"It is unacceptable. The senseless killings defy comprehension. We have certainly reached a crisis point and it's time to step up in a collaborative way to combat this violence."
"It is unacceptable. The senseless killings defy comprehension. We have certainly reached a crisis point and it's time to step up in a collaborative way to combat this violence."
The conference will feature workshops, speakers, art showcases, musical performances and critical discussions about escalating youth violence in hopes of raising awareness to the challenges facing black youth today.
For more information about B.L.I.N.G., log on to bringloveinnotguns.com
Article source : http://www.mediumonline.ca/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=9