By Madina Toure
At a vigil and lighting ceremony in front of the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Monday night, elected officials, community leaders and anti-gun violence advocates spoke out against the Charleston massacre and gun violence in the borough.
The ceremony consisted of an interfaith prayer vigil for the victims of the Charleston massacre and a lighting ceremony for gun violence awareness. As of Monday night, the front exterior of the Queens Museum will be lit orange, the official color of Gun Violence Awareness Month, until June 30.
Speaking to a small crowd, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz called the massacre a “senseless act of violence” and said it was clearly an act of racism.
Referring to the motto of the 1964/1965 World’s Fair, “Peace Through Understanding,” she urged everyone to speak out and fight against gun violence.
“We want to make sure that we are heard loud and clear that gun violence will not be tolerated,” Katz said.
Erica Ford, founder and CEO of LIFE Camp Inc. in Jamaica, sporting a shirt with the organization’s motto, “Peace Is A Lifestyle,” noted that last year during Memorial Day weekend there were two shootings and four people shot in the 103rd and 113th precinct areas.
This year the area had no shootings during that time period, which she said was tied to people stepping up to combat gun violence.
“Things like that happen because people come together and they commit to a lifestyle,” Ford said. “People come together and commit to a vision. People come together and are selflessly giving of themselves to do more than just think about themselves.”
Pastor Richard Hogan of Divine Deliverance Ministry in Jamaica, father of gun violence victim Laseam Hogan, led a prayer.
“Thank you, God,” Hogan said at the vigil. “In the midst of chaos, you are bringing order.”
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
