by Jumaane Williams - Ebony.com
NYPD detectives work at a shooting scene after J'ouvert festivities in Brooklyn AP / Craig Ruttle
As we still mourn the deaths of 17-year-old Tyreke Borel and 22-year-old Tiarah Poyau who were shot and killed last week during J’Ouvert, the early morning celebration that precedes the West Indian Day Carnival in Brooklyn, N.Y., many have used the tragic events to hold fast to uninformed positions in regards to the future of the event.
After a grassroots campaign promoting safety during the Labor Day weekend and a coordinated allocation of resources including police, community violence interrupters and clergy there was a tremendous shared sense of disappointment following the shootings. The response from some was to call for a cancelation of the event. This, while offering what appears to be an easy solution, regrettably shows ignorance of what J’Ouvert (pronounced zhoo-vay) is and to the overall problem of gun violence.
First, let us remember that real families are mourning and should be given support and time to grieve. Also, we must recognize the victims who survived are recovering from trauma as well. There will be time to really assess what needs to be done.
When we do reconvene and ask the primary question on whether to “cancel” or “suspend” J’Ouvert, we must ask if we are calling to cancel the organized parade that happens at 5am? If so, therein lies the problem.
Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/news-views/cancel-jouvert-opinion#ixzz4LgpLuexZ
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