BLEA, ET6 Family Day BBQ 2012: Bringing Awareness to Gun Violence in Our Communities

Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, a national organization of Black Law Enforcement Professionals and ET6 Nation, a clothing company based out of Mt. Vernon New York will host a family Day BBQ Honoring Mothers and Families that lost Children to Gun Violence in Westchester County.

The event will be held on August 5, 2012, starting at Noon, at Secor Woods Park, Secor Rd, Hartsdale, New York

According to the recent report by the Children Defense Fund, guns are causing the deaths of thousands and thousands of children each year. In 2008 and 2009, gun homicide was the leading cause of death among black teens.

According to the report, in 2008, 2,947 children and teens died from guns in the United States and 2,793 died in 2009 for a total of 5,740—one child or teen every three hours, eight every day, 55 every week for two years. Six times as many children and teens—34,387—suffered nonfatal gun injuries as gun deaths in 2008 and 2009. This is equal to one child or teen every 31 minutes, 47 every day, and 331 children and teens every week.

Obviously , those who live in these disadvantage communities do not have planes and boats to move the guns into our communities. The amount of guns that flow in many communities in Westchester has killed mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and even law enforcement. Our elected officials should be embarrassed to know that it is easier for a youth in urban cities in the United States to get an illegal gun faster than they can get a job.

 This is America's pipeline to prison — a trajectory that leads to marginalized lives, imprisonment and often premature death. Although the majority of fourth graders cannot read at grade level, states spend about three times as much money per prisoner as per public school pupil.

 “We are honoring the mothers and families of victims of gun violence to bring attention to the gun problem in our communities. There must be a comprehensive change in the mindset of the people to achieve any sustainable reduction in crime. Our Motto is “With love and Kindness we will show our Youth to a better way of life. This is especially critical to those families with children, to prevent the youth from growing up being/feeling neglected and joining on to so-called gangs and engage in criminal actives. The offender of tomorrow is often the at-risk child of today whose needs are not being addressed.”

Damon K. Jones, Blacks In Law Enforcement of America 

“ET6 Nation firmly stands against gun violence. We believe with more help from our local government and the participation of the community we can combat this problem. That is the reason why we're teaming up with Black Law Enforcement and supporting it's Family Day Barbeque. We need our youth to believe again, as well as to know that we are here for them as a Community. Gun violence has plagued our communities and our youth for far to long now. Our kids are dying on these streets and it's time to question ourselves, not just the ones pulling the trigger.”