Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "sacramento youth violence"

A Mother's Cry

2011-11-01T04:17:05Z

The phone rings a woman cries out. “Rhonda, is your son okay? I heard he was robbed at gunpoint. Was he shot?"

"My son is on his way home from school. It must be someone else." I replied. I hung up the phone and I called the cell phone my sister had bought my son for Christmas.

A voice I did not recognize answered. I asked, “Who is this?" I demanded, "Put my son on the phone."

The person responded, "You're son is dead" and then they hung up. I called back crying, "Please put my son on the phone." They replied, "He's dead."

I ran to the car with no idea of where I was going. I decided to drive the route my son would have walked home from school.

I was praying "Please God let me find my son. Please don't let me find a corpse covered in a tarp. Please let him be okay. Please God. Please"

Tears were streaming down my face. I could not breathe. I feared my son was laying somewhere also unable to breathe.

I could hardly see where I was driving so many tears were streaming down my face.

I was determined to find my son and then find the people who were answering his phone.

I had called 911 as I was leaving my home. I cried, "My son has been robbed. I think the people responsible are answering his phone. I think they shot him"

I could give no further information. I was told an officer would be dispatched to the area.

Several phone calls later I was given a phone number for an officer in the area.

I cried, “Please call my sons cell phone. The people responsible are answering his phone."

I was asked, "Mam, does your son sell drugs? Usually when people are robbed in the area they sell drugs."

I cried and questioned, "Are you telling me my son is a suspect for a crime, of selling drugs, that has not occurred verses the victim of a crime, a robbery, that has occurred?

Again, I begged, "Please call his cell phone." I was told, "Mam this is not CSI..."

It was at that point I realized if I was going to find my son I was going to do it alone. And I drove and drove, afraid of finding a corpse covered in a tarp and afraid of not finding my son.

My son, then 16yrs old and his 15yr old classmate were robbed of their jackets, phone and wallet as they walked home from school. The boy with my son turned over his items quickly and my son hesitated.

I had put his leather jacket on layaway for Christmas. It was the first day back to school from Winter Break. Because he hesitated, the robbers were going to take his life.

"Oh, he think he's tough. We got something for you" one robber replied.

The boy who had been walking with my son said he heard a gun go off and he ran afraid to look back. He said my son did not want to give them his jacket.

To think my son could have, ignorantly, lost his life for a jacket I put on layaway for three months was overwhelmingly difficult.

By the Grace of God, when the youth put the gun to my sons head and pulled the trigger the gun jammed. At that point my son ran, for his life, in the opposite direction.

Their was a gunshot but it missed my son.

My son ran and ran and ran until he found someone who would open their door and let him use the phone. Finally I had heard from my son. I picked him up, picked up his 15yr-old friend we met with officers to report the robbery.

I share this story, which is only one of several painful events in our lives in the City of Sacramento, for several reasons which include:

when I later write of what concerns (the tricks) with the Mayor's forum I want people to understand where I am coming from-- the pain that drives me to want to see significant efforts.
because this is the incident which woke me up and I began addressing youth violence crying out for the city to see our youths as more than suspects but as victims of crime as well.

When I attend forums addressing youth violence I take this and other pain with me. The pain never leaves me. I will never forget the painful memories I have in attempting to keep my son alive.

Equally important I will never forget the painful memories I have as I attempted to ensure my son knows freedom through a corrupt Sacramento court.

When I attend youth violence meetings I look for what is on the surface and I also look at what is not being told.

Unfortunately some are more concerned with losing funding or gaining funding than concerned with being completely truthful in their statistics.

I stayed on my knees in prayer. But I did not just pray. Faith without works is dead. So I also labored to address youth violence.

After my son was robbed of his jacket, cell phone and $5.00. He was robbed of a bike he was riding. I went to my church and asked if I could hold a town hall meeting to address youth violence.

The forum was 'Saving the Lives of All Youth" I felt it was important that we reach out to all youth. I knew if we just reach out to one ethnic group our children would still die.

In 2005, many Sacramento City and County leaders were focused on Hmong, Mien and Lao youth violence.

But the painful fact was the youth that robbed my son of his leather jacket were not Black, Hmong, Mien, Lao, Caucasian or Latino. I knew we had to reach all youth.

I also knew Tongan, Filipino, Russian, Pacific Islander, East Indian… youth were also dying and being arrested as a result of youth violence.

I went to my council member and without knowing me, she gave me her full support. Three articles were written by SacBee Diana Grego Erwin and community members from all walks of life responded.

I knew then addressing youth violence was something an entire community was prepared to do. I asked for parents, families of victims, schools, churches, community organizations, law enforcement, city and county elected officials to come together to save the lives of all our youth.

From our March 2005 meeting, then Sac City Superintendent Roy Grimes held an impressive forum at Hiram Johnson in April 2005. It was then I first publicly spoke sharing the story of my son robbed at gunpoint.

2005 Sacramento City School Superintendent Roy Grimes forum was impressive, consisting of Parents, Community leaders, Law enforcement, Non Profits and Educators.

A year or so later, and once money became available, an organizing committee came together and held another forum at Hiram Johnson. I was a speaker sharing the tragic stories of Sacramento youth homicide victims. The forum also brought together additional non profit organizations.

I have probably been to more meetings than I've been alive. I'm no spring chicken. There is so much I have seen from some that address youth violence that concerns me. There are also efforts which impress me.

But more often than not each time I attended a forum addressing youth violence I left in more pain than before and more often than not I cried harder than I cried before.

The March 2005 community meeting, “Saving the Lives of All Our Youth” included myself, Parents of victims, Two Council members (District Director's), Two County Supervisor (Chief of Staff) several Church Pastors, Community activist/ law enforcement, California Department of Correction workers, city, county, state, private industry workers, School Board members from several districts, Sac City Superintendent and several non profit organizations.

I share the above because it is important to know the collaborative effort our Mayor’s Plan consists of has been done before.

However the mayor’s forum is impressive as I will discuss in Part Two, Mayor’s Strategic Plan for Gang Prevention; Tricks and Treats.

Six years and Six months of addressing youth violence I sat in the October 31st "Mayor's Strategic Plan for Gang Prevention" meeting asking myself, 'Have we walked on a treadmill?"

The Answer is No. We have to crawl before we can walk. As someone once said, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with it's first steps."

I seen people at the October 31st forum who have been walking to address youth violence since 2005, some prior to 2005 and yes, some who began walking once gang prevention funding became available.

I will be honest and I did not expect it. The Mayor's forum was a treat. Mayor Johnson was impressive. The Strategic Plan is impressive. As always, Khaalid Muttaqi, is impressive.

Yes, their were some tricks given by some presenters in efforts to make their programs shine. But today I wanted to share my experience in hopes you will see some of our pain and understand why we deserve real solutions.

Tomorrow I hope to share the October 31, 2011 Tricks and Treats of Sacramento Mayor's Strategic Plan for Gang Prevention putting a spotlight on some of the deception in hopes we move forward in truth to gain effective solutions.

All in all today was a good day. Kudo's Mayor Johnson, City of Sacramento, and all of those addressing youth violence prevention.

I don’t attend youth violence meetings to make friends. I don’t attend to make money. I attend with pain both personal and the pain I have learned of all the families who have lost their youth to death or incarceration. It is a burden to carry so much pain.

It is overwhelming when the truth is overshadowed by trickery to gain, compete or keep funding.

When I attend youth violence meetings I look at everyone and everything both the spoken words and the unspoken. I look for truth.

I left the forum with less pain than I arrived. I left the forum without one tear and for me that too is impressive.

Kudo's Mayor Johnson, this mother is crying less but you still have work to do. It is a Job well begun

The Pied Piper of Sacramento City Hall

2011-05-18T06:33:39Z

May 17th 2011 I left work early to head to city hall. As I entered the building I was surprised to see so many community members dressed in blue shirts with the initials SPOA and a photo of a badge printed on the front of the shirts.

Many held signs which read, “Protect Sacramento.”

As I sat in the session and listened to the presentation given by Sacramento Police Chief Braziel I was alarmed, concerned and to be honest extremely disappointed.

As I listened too many of the speakers my heart began to ache. I began to pray. I became overwhelmed with sorrow.

Suddenly city hall transformed into a 16th century fairy tale-- The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Or better yet, the Pied Piper of Sacramento City Hall.

Do you remember the fairytale? It was suppose to reflect a historical event where Hamelin lost it‘s children.

Do you see the similarities? Sacramento is also losing many of its children to death on our streets or to become the walking dead in California prisons.

I looked over at a member of Sacramento Police Officers Association and I saw a pied piper leading the children away from the town never to return. As speakers left the podium he would nod in approval. As new members came in he would node in approval.

I listened to the presentation given by our Police Chief and many speakers and I closed my eyes and I again saw a piper hired by the town to lure rats (crime) away with his magic pipe (department).

The piper attempted to overshadow other city departments, resources and opportunities for our youth which could prevent crime. The city budget is in deficit and many departments will be cut but hundreds came today for the job security of one department.

Since it appeared the citizenry refused to pay more for this service, the piper appeared to retaliate by turning on his magic “Protect Sacramento” musical campaign.

The Pied Piper, leading hundreds to attend the counsel session, appeared to hypnotize the counsel with his magical presentation.

Is it strange this fairytale came to mind? No. Considering the Pied Piper is a symbol of the children's death by plague or catastrophe.

Our children are dying on our streets. Our children are becoming the walking dead.

A plague of youth violence surrounds many in this city and to cut programs for our youth and the cuts to Parks and Recreations would cause more to die and become the walking dead. But the Pied Piper appears only concerned with the growth of his department.

A catastrophe where money and departments are valued more than life and freedom surrounds this city.

Many held signs of “Protect Sacramento“. But they appeared to be protecting co-workers.

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign when 19yr old Jai Body laid bleeding in a Sacramento gutter? His sister held him as he cried “Please don’t leave me” and he left her, taking his last breath, dying in her arms? His blood filled her shirt.

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign with a mother whose 17yr old son was shot and killed? She walked to the school where he took his last breath and put up a fenced memorial and laid within it for days crying for her son to return?

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign when a mother was tied up with her younger children? She tried with all her might to protect her 18yr old son. He was shot in the head as his mother and younger siblings cried helplessly.

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign when a mother went to her son’s apartment to find him laying in the bathtub where blood covered his body?

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign when a mother cried, ’Please don’t make me go. Please don’t make me see my son covered in dirt. She was carried to his grave site to say goodbye to a child who died 17yrs young in the city of Sacramento.

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign when a mother sat in a funeral suddenly left her chair as if walking on air tears filling her face softly speaking, “Please, let this go as quickly as possible, I just buried his brother”

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign when a mother opened her door and armed youth entered? She stood in front of her child trying to save his life and the bullet took her life.

Where was the Protect Sacramento campaign as hundreds are continuously losing their life and hundreds more will never know freedom, in the City of Sacramento?

Why did so many come out tonight to “Protect Sacramento”? Where are the hundreds when town hall meetings towards the violence are held? Where were they when the Mayor held his forum on crime?

Where is the Protect Sacramento campaign when youth are at risk? Does it only become a campaign to Protect Sacramento when money for a department is at risk?

It appeared many were looking at money, at the budget, job security and not the people affected, exposed suffering as a result of crime.

It appeared many on the counsel were looking at endorsements, votes and not as Father Boyle states, “Nothing stops a bullet like a job”

Sacramento city officials were hypnotized by the pied piper of city hall-- a union which came out in full force to play our elected officials like a fiddle.

It was extremely painful watching city hall transform into a 16th century Pied Piper fairytale.

It is alarming, concerning and disappointing to see City Officials hypnotized by the music or endorsement of the Pied Piper.

It appears elected officials within the City of Sacramento will make sacrifices through this budget process. They appear to sacrifice life and freedom for a department and possible election endorsements.

Youth Violence Prevention Forum May 6-7

2011-05-05T18:45:25Z

Kudos to St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church Youth Department for providing an educational opportunity for youth 13-17yrs of age.

The program will focus on youth violence prevention- to save a life and save freedom. The program will include discussions on youth death and youth arrests.

Everyone is welcome. Please bring youth who you feel could benefit from the outreach.

On Friday youth will write down what they want to discuss. A mother who lost her teenage son will discuss choices. Her son died after making a bad choice and police attempted to apprehend him. The mother has a powerful tragic story to share with the youth.

Their will also be several youth performances including the Aztec Dance Group, Justice... Guest speaker, Rhonda Erwin, will discuss Sacramento youth deaths / arrests. The youth will put their heart and soul into their performances.

Saturday will offer youth entertainment as well including Youth Praise Team, Yeshua Movement, Gospel Rappers...

Saturday's program will also include a powerful L.I.F.E - four part series
L - Law looking from above - Sister Debra Herndon (Warden aspect)
I - In the Cage of rage - Minister William Gillard (Inmate aspect)
F - Forever a number - Brother Eric Wright (Parole Officer Aspect)
E - End result of your actions - Rhonda Erwin (Family member of an inmate aspect)

Give a man a fish; he can eat for a day. Teach him how to fish; he will eat for a lifetime.

Youth FUNCTION

Mission Statement

Community Outreach

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church Youth Department will:

Provide an educational opportunity for youth ages 13-17 years, which is age appropriate, fun, exciting, and spiritually filled. The program will focus on youth violence prevention and our motto is, “If we can save at least one child from the system, we were successful”.

The program includes, Praise Teams, Praise Dancers, Youth Counselors, Law Enforcement Officers, games and much more.

Two Day Event - Schedule

Friday, May 6, 2011

Registration/Dinner: 6:30pm

Program: 7:30p until

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Breakfast: 9:30a

Program: 10:30a-1:00p

Contact Denice Moore for additional details

What's Going On?

2011-04-21T07:07:03Z

"Mother, Mother there's far too many of you crying. Brother, brother, brother there's far too many of you dying. You know we've got to find a way to bring some lovin here today. Father, Father you don't need to escalate. You see, war is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate. You know we've got to find a way to bring some lovin here today... We've got to find a way to bring some understanding here today... When will it end, when will people start getting together again..." Marvin Gaye http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

What's Going On?

April 20, 2011 One dies and six injured as a result of violence in South Sacramento.

Four were shot on 51st Avenue in South Sacramento. Two are said to be hospitalized.

Three are stabbed in South Sacramento. One lost his life.

In the last six days fourteen have been shot. Four have been stabbed. Five have died. Nine are injured.

April 15, 2011 a 21yr-old Sacramento youth was shot five times- Arden- Arcade area. He is in critical condition.

April 15, 2011 a 19yr year old Sacramento teen was shot and killed. His 20yr old brother was shot in the face.

April 17, 2011 One dead, on the ground, gunshot wound to the head and another, also shot, injured outside a South Sacramento night club

April 17, 2011 Five are shot and one died after a Del Paso Heights Party

April 17, 2011 An eighteen year old died after being fatally stabbed.

April 20, 2011 Three are stabbed on Quinta Court near Stockton Blvd. One victim died at the hospital. Two victims were driven to the hospital with wounds.

April 20, 2011 Four were shot on 51st Avenue in South Sacramento. Two are said to be hospitalized.

Before one is buried another has lost his life. Cries continue to echo from one Sacramento neighborhood to another.

There are far too many of us crying. There are far too many of us dying. You know we've got to find a way to bring love here today.

Precious Lord please take our hand. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJwUpW7ioiA

What Do I Have To Do To Make You Love Me? What Do I Have To Do To Make You Care?

2011-04-19T04:15:53Z

"What have I got to do to make you love me? Huh? What have I got to do to make you care? What do I do when lightening strikes me and I wake up and find that you're not there? What have I got to do to make you want me? What have I got to do to be heard? What do I say when it's all over? And sorry seems to be the hardest word? It's a sad, so sad It's a sad sad situation and it's getting more and more absurd... It's sad, so sad. Why can't we talk it over? Oh it seems to me that sorry seems to be the hardest word" Ray Charles and Elton John" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y29dWcuqQY

In Memory of All of Sacramento Youth Homicide Victims (This is an incomplete list. I apologize for all the names that are not listed within all age groups. All life is important and the loss of all life is important. The list reflects the age group where our youth are dying at a greater rate.) Also I apologize the list does not reflect the hundreds of youth who were shot but survived to be blind, paralyzed, amputated limbs, physically, emotional and mentally affected by their injuries. Their lives and pain are also important.

You are dearly loved, missed and mourned by many within the Sacramento community:

Sean Paul Aquitania Jr 7 months - Jone Vongkhamsomphou 12 years old - Lenny Visamoune 13 yrs - Dominic Namnard 13 yrs -Ronald Kenoly 14 yrs - Lanajah Nachelle Dupree 14yrs - Shavtavia Westbrook 15yrs - Aliyah Smith 15yrs- Phillip Bailey 15 yrs - MarioVidal 15yrs- Roberto Sandoval 15yrs - Robert Maisonette 15yrs - Roberto Treadway 15yrs - Abel Alonso 15yrs - Rodney Foster 15yrs - ...Francisco Medina-Thomas 16yrs - Crystal Dawn Reid 16 yrs - Dureay Jones 16yrs - Sean Cassinelli 16yrs - Donte Walton 16yrs - Jelisa Office 16yrs - Robert Haynes 16yrs - ...Dominique Hickman 17yrs - Cardenas Carrillo 17yrs - Alan Ting Khamphomy 17yrs - Curtis "DR" Allison 17yrs- William Martinez 17yrs - Edward Heydaragha 17yrs- Joshua Tranhan - Mays 17yrs - Kevin Marshall 17yrs- Alan Khamphourmy 17 yrs- Pavel Chepelyuk 17yrs - Eduardo Estrella 17yrs- Clifton Reed 17yrs- Navid Chand 17yrs - Tony Nguyen 17yrs - Cornell Harris 17yrs - Lamar Gasaway 17yrs - Deantwean Thomas 17yrs - Robert Placencia 17yrs - Joaquin Zavala 17yrs - Crisanto Guerrero 17yrs - Quang Hoang 17yrs - Marcus Rangel 17yrs - Daniel Garcia 17yrs - Amber Yager 17yrs - Marque Johnson 17yrs - Bobby Wilson 17yrs- Victor Henrique Lima 17yrs - Daniel Valdez 111 17yrs - Paul Robinson 17yrs- Damien King 17yrs - Mathew Maurizzio 17yrs - ... Vladimer Korets 18yrs- Marcus Thompson 18yrs- Jazzmyne Bruner 18yrs - Ralph Reynose 18yrs- Gamaliel Torres 18yrs- D'Andre Blackwell18yrs - German Mendoza 18yrs- Sean Tennerson 18yrs - David Mendez 18yrs- Lucinda Costen 18yrs - Quinnisha Thomas 18yrs - Burton Mack 18yrs - James Ramirez 18yrs - William Virdee 18yrs - Emanuel Michel 18yrs - Marcus Mays 18yrs - Jack Lawrence 18yrs- Favian Fuller 18yrs - Shaneel Singh 18yrs - Timothy Carver 18yrs - Sophie Bartkiewicz 18yrs - Fabien Reyes 18yrs- Cha Lee 18yrs - Julio Tobeldo 18yrs - Howard Morris 18yrs - Delvon Valentine 18yrs - Tan Tran 18yrs - David Rubi 18yrs - Christine Cheatman 18yrs - Byron Breen 18yrs - Voskoboinik Pavels 18yrs - Oscar Munoz 18yrs - Rojelio Hurtado 18yrs - Anthony Galati 19yrs- Donald Monroe 18yrs - Matthew Harrison 18yrs - Norman Souza 18yrs - Freddie Kimber 18yrs - Maurice Taylor 18yrs - Dante Spivey 18yrs - Jullian Herrera 18yrs - Rhea Escovilla 18yrs- Joshua Fish 18yrs- Melinda Vo 18yrs- Michael Clemente 18yrs- Soutalay Vongsedone 18yrs - Leon Hamilton 18yrs- Jose Mendes 18yrs- Gregory Augustus 18yrs- ...Tyesha Gallien 19yrs - Perell Marquise Waters 19yrs - Vinh Cam Tuyen 9yrs- Donald Robinson 19yrs- Lakishia Montue 19yrs - Demetrio Nambo 19yrs - Frederick Howard 19yrs- Richard Rios 19yrs- Rajneel Sharma Kamal 19yrs - Eric Anthony Young 19yrs - Perell Waters 19yrs- Chaita Saechao 19yrs- Marcos Estrada Jr 19yrs - Eugene Gallegos 19yrs- Aaron Corona 19yrs- Clinton Poole 19yrs- Daniel Murphy 19yrs- Samuel Latu 19yrs- Rohimah Maderios 19yrs- Jamail Singh 19yrs- Vinh Nguyen 19yrs- Johnathan Powell 19yrs- Duance Mackey 19yrs- Robert Ingram 19yrs- Christopher Dominquez 19yrs- Jai Anton Westbrook 19yrs- Carlos Morales 19yrs- Gonzalo Sanchez 19yrs- Jamie Reed 19yrs- Gao Vue 19yrs- Andre Salsedo 19yrs- Anthony Rocha 19yrs- Genevia Walker 19yrs- Kong Fong Moua 19yrs- Chong Vang 19yrs- Vinh Tuyen 19yrs - Reuben Delatorre 19yrs- Gamaliel Torres 19yrs- Justin Johnson 19yrs- Kisbi Allen 19yrs- Major Quinney 19yrs- Tommy Deorsoan 19yrs- Adrian Romero 19yrs- Andrew Volynets 19yrs- Francisco Flores 19yrs - Victor Mares 19- Charles Robinson 19- Jonathan Giurbino 19- Brandon Timmons 19yrs- Matthew Seivert 19yrs- Ismael Baez 19yrs- David Bongsavath 19yrs- Richard Cassell 19yrs- Anthony Galati 19yrs- Jesus Gabriel Demara 19yrs- James Giles 19yrs- M'Angelo Cordero 19yrs- Johnnie Johnson 19yrs-... Lapria Tyson 20yrs- Faustino Garcia 20yrs- Albert Titman 20yrs- Augusto Lopez-Garcia 20yrs- Hector Rosales 20yrs- Sahara Tufts 20yrs- Joseph Washington 20yrs- Christopher Montejano 20yrs- Greg Champagne 20yrs- Curtis Anderson Jr 20yrs- Kyle Ray Smith 20yrs- Jevon Drake 20yrs- Horatio Lawrence 20yrs- Hoa Nguyen 20yrs- Victor Derueda 20yrs- Kbret Tekle 20yrs- Salvador Ayala 20yrs- Nina Susu 20yrs- Sione Lomano 20yrs- Jovannie Etancur 20yrs- Tommy Xiong 20yrs- Hudson Augustus 20yrs- Charles Witherow 20yrs- Trong Nugyen 20yrs - Jose Johnson 20yrs- Brandon Long 20yrs- Alfredo Enrique Perez 20yrs- James Black 20yrs- Donte Rogers 20yrs- Thomas Massi 20yrs- Ryan Lumagui 20yrs- Santino Hogan 20yrs- Hai Tran 20yrs- Dawayne Douglas 20yrs- Johnson Lee 20yrs- Jonah Simms 20yrs- Alfredo Enrique Perez 20yrs- ...Emmanuel Pickens 21yrs- Dominic Campos 21yrs- John Adamo 21yrs- Demetris Whteside 21yrs- Dmitriy Paskar 21yrs- Neelesh Sami 21yrs- Darryl Sams 21yrs- Clarence Smith 21yrs- Christopher Torres 21yrs- Kyron Vandell 21yrs- Adrian Hutchins 21yrs- Gregory Dockery 21yrs- Raymone Wshington 21yrs- Gerardo Jimenez 21yrs- Joe Velasquez 21yrs- Timothy Lawson 21yrs- Juan Blancas 21yrs- Nai Saechao 21yrs- Sean Paul Aquitania Sr 21yrs- Dawn Perrigo 21yrs- Carlos Encisco 21yrs- Sanjay Ray 21yrs- Mario Vasquez 21yrs- Benjamin Lujan 21yrs- Mallory Treadwell 21yrs- Phillip Latimer 21yrs- Danny Johnson 21yrs- Steven Daniels 21yrs- Sione Folau 21yrs- Coong Sin 21yrs- Tony Xiong 21yrs- Donald McCall 21yrs- Kam Kam 21yrs- Jamay Sticca 21yrs- Donald Willis 21yrs- Kavon Kyle Lyles 21yrs- Ehab Hubibeh 21yrs- Marc Grimes 21yrs- Juan Atrisco 21yrs- James Melendez 21yrs- Luther Ryan 21yrs- Maria Tores 21yrs- Dominic Campos 21yrs- Paul Ray Cousins 21yrs- ...Anthony Dawson 22yrs- Phue Pham 22yrs- Benjamin Carvajal 22yrs- Deandre Thomas 22yrs- Auturo Rodriquez 22yrs- Alvin Richardon 22yrs- Andre Slaughter 22yrs- Jose Medina 22 yrs- Kevin Moore 22yrs- Legion Dobbins 22yrs- Clifford Owens 22- Ramon Valverde 22yrs- Jose Rodriquez 22yrs- Sean Williams 22yrs- Samy Pasioles 22yrs- Ernest Williams 22yrs- Juan Gutierrez 22yrs- Michael Sanchez 22yrs- Robert Carrillo 22yrs-Matthew Castillo 22yrs- David Perkins 22yrs- Ay Saechao 22yrs- Isidro Lopez 22yrs- Igor Vitvitskiy 22yrs- Cornell Gathing 22yrs- Joseph Montoya 22yrs- Marlon Youngblood 22yrs- David Blanks 22yrs- Tammula Robbins 22yrs- ...Carlos Cervantes 23yrs- Adrian Rojos 23yrs- Prince Ray Mills 23yrs- Darrell Harrison 23yrs- Edward Jackson 23yrs- Pra Yang 23yrs- Anthony Espinosa 23yrs- Cheryl Brinkley 23yrs- Eric Grimble 23yrs- Brandon Loomer 23yrs- Jorge Vasquez 23yrs- Nicky Ly 23 yrs- Rocky Tupu 23yrs- Roshod Gusters 23yrs- Antonio Garcia 23yrs- So Su 23yrs- Mwasi Dennis 23yrs- Kae Saevang 23yrs- Fred Hernandez 23yrs- Kyle Billing 23yrs- Damon Perkins 23yrs- Travil Collins 23yrs- Shiralessia Nelson 23yrs- Jose Tova Palacios 23yrs- Santiago Duarte 23yrs- Alejandro Villalobos 23yrs- LeWayne Carolina 23yrs- James Periman 23yrs- Jevon Brown 23yrs- ...Albert Dawson 24yrs- Michael Thames 24yrs- Vincent Estrada 24yrs- James Means 24yrs- Michael Parker 24yrs- Matthew Erwin 24yrs- Antoine Wood 24yrs- Christopher Jiminez 24yrs- Jesse Rodgers 24yrs- Patrick Portalin 24yrs- Alfredo Hernandez 24yrs- Cleveland Cayson 24yrs- James Myers 24yrs- Theron Hopkins 24yrs- Julio Orozco 24yrs, Serge Zubenko 24yrs- Babriel Martinez 24yrs- Jose Felix Himes 24yrs- Wang Lee 24yrs- Andrew Gates 24yrs- Andre Whittaker 24yrs- Juliet Chastain 24yrs- Wesley Hunter 24yrs- Allen Qualls 24yrs- Arthur Haygood 24yrs- Teveston Johnson 24yrs- Keith Shaw 24yrs- Brendon Howton 24yrs- Veron Holden 24yrs- Francisco Fernandez 24yrs- Patrick Razaghzadeh 24yrs- ...Robert Grimes 25yrs- Damon Haywood 25yrs- Hector Barrera 25yrs- Joe Cisneros 25yrs- Michael Smith 25yrs- Dumaurier Lewis 25yrs- Fernando Munoz 25yrs- Tersha Brown 25yrs- Alison Freesheha 25yrs- Derek Mathis 25yrs- Sylvia Guerro 25yrs- Sonja Vasquez 25yrs- Nairobi Wirght 25yrs- ... Frank Champion Jr 26yrs- Keith Lu 216yrs- Salvador Arriaga 26yrs- Alejandro Baustista 26yrs- Shawn West 26yrs- Doua La 26yrs- Derrick Franklin 26yrs- Anthony Fuller 26yrs- Danny Hickman 26yrs- Sevon Boles 26yrs- Priscilla Walker 26yrs- Stefon Mayers Jr 26yrs- Chateamer Homes 27yrs- Xavir Rodriquez 27yrs- Michael Barron 27yrs- Shautea Coates 27yrs- Charles Barkclay 27yrs- Jesus Cortes-Heredia 27yrs- Marquis Kendall 28yrs, Ricky Buford 28yrs- Devin Crowder 28yrs, Carlos Lomeli 28yrs....

Again, I apologize for all the names that are not listed. The death of your love one is equally loved, missed and mourned by many within the Sacramento community.

"How do I say Goodbye to what we had...I don't know where this road is gonna lead. All I know is where we've been and what we've been through. I will take with me the memories to be my sunshine after the rain. It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday." Boys2Men http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VastXQ_hPb0&feature=related

In the Spirit Of Love and Peace

Can Somebody- Anybody- Tell Me Why We Die?

2011-04-18T12:31:44Z

Can somebody, anybody tell me why we die?...

Prayyyyyyy, and we pray and we pray, and we pray, and we pray
Everyday, everyday, everyday, everyday
and we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and we pray...

While you laughin we're passing, passing away...

Can somebody anybody tell me why?
Hey, can somebody anybody tell me why we die, we die?
I don't wanna die... Bone, Thugs and Harmony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMYAEHE2GrM&feature=related

Within three days, in Sacramento, ten people were shot. Four have died including an eighteen year old who died of stab wounds. Seven are injured by gunshot wounds. Many more could have become victims as over 30 shell casings are found and many bullet holes in cars.

Friday, April 15, 2011 a 21yr-old Sacramento youth was shot five times- Arden- Arcade area. He is in critical condition.

Friday, April 15, 2011 a 19yr year old Sacramento teen was shot and killed. His 20yr old brother was shot in the face.

Sunday, April 17, 2011 One dead, on the ground, gunshot wound to the head and another, also shot, injured outside a South Sacramento night club

Sunday, April 17, 2011 Five are shot and one died after a Del Paso Heights Party

Sunday, April 17, 2011 An eighteen year old died after being fatally stabbed.

Car washes are being held to bury victims.

Candle light vigils are held in both South Sacramento and North Sacramento where friends and family gather at the site where someone they love took their last breath.

Before one is buried another is murdered.

People, teens, youth are dying prematurely.

Families are preparing to bury their young six feet in the ground, covered in dirt.

Mothers, Fathers, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, siblings, cousins, friends... are mourning.

Cries echo from North Sacramento to South Sacramento.

People are grieving, suffering, frightened, fighting to live and living to die. .

Can somebody anybody tell me why we die?.

And we pray and we pray, and we pray, and we pray
Everyday, everyday, everyday, everyday
and we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and we pray...

While you're laughin we're passing, passing away. And we pray and we pray and we pray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JmZ9ADhYg&feature=related (lyrics)

Our prayers will be answered. And may what has been done in the dark come to the light. May we please seek effective solutions to address the violence interupting the lives of so very many Sacramento residents.

Please Help Us Mend Our Broken Hearts And Help Us Live Again

2011-04-16T05:26:38Z

How can you mend a broken heart? Al Green

"I can think of younger days when living for my life
Was everything a man could want to do
I could never see tomorrow, but I was never told about the sorrow

And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?
How can you mend a this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again

I can still feel the breeze that rustles through the trees
And misty memories of days gone by
We could never see tomorrow, no one said a word about the sorrow

Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again"

Tonight I sit with tears painfully singing, 'How can you mend a borken heart" by Al Green. Tonight I pray please let our youth see tomorrow. Please let them live again. Please God mend our broken hearts.

On April 14, 2011 at approximately 4:45pm Francisco Flores, nineteen years young, was shot and killed. Near his lifeless body laid his twenty years young brother, Michael, bleeding with gunshot wounds to the face.

The brothers were shot in their car in the parking lot of a small shopping center at Northgate Boulevard and San Juan Road. Francisco "Frankie" took his last breath at the scene. Michael was taken, away from his brother, to the hospital.

A family must prepare to bury their loved one. The same family must prepare to lift another loved one as he will undergo facial reconstruction and live with the horrific memory of his brother dying.

How can you reconstruct a broken damaged heart? How do you mend a brother's broken heart when he witnessed his younger brother take his last breath?

How can you stop the tears from falling when your love one, so young, will never see tomorrow? And another will face tomorrow with deep sorrow?

What do you say to a mother - a family- divided by the pain of preparing to sit in a funeral with one love one and the pain of sitting in a hospital trying to comfort another love one whose pain is so deep he can not be comforted?

I do not have to personally know Francisco "Frankie" to mourn his passing. I do not have to personally know Michael to feel a tremendous sadness for his sorrow and pain.

I am a mother and my heart aches, grieves badly, for the pain and sorrow the mother of Francisco and Michael must now endure.

Today I held beautiful 19 years young Patsy. Her heart is swollen in pain. She told us of the passing of Frankie and the injury of Michael. Her eyes were filled with sadness. Her heart expanded with grief. She has known the brothers since her early childhood.

As Patsy stood motionless with people of different ethnic backgrounds, different life experiences, male and female, young and old we all could feel her pain and sadness. Love is colorless.

We reached out in the spirit of love to try and mend her broken heart. She loves Frankie and Michael and their are no words which can give her comfort. Comfort will come ---from divine intervention.

Youth violence has a domino effect and the aftermath of the violence reaches far and many. In the words of Dr King, "We are all woven from the same garment. What affects one of us directly affects all of us indirectly"

Every funeral I have attended, of murdered youth, has been filled to capacity with young people in pain. Every candle light vigil I ever attended hundreds of youth stood with broken hearts.

The families are swollen in pain with broken hearts. The friends are swollen in pain with broken hearts.

We did not have to be of the same ethnic background to mourn the loss of one of God's children. We did not have to live in the same neighborhood to feel the impact of the loss of life.

We did not have to personally know the victims to open our hearts and reach out to the family faced with the sorrow of youth violence.

Love and pain has no boundaries. Love and Pain are colorless.

Francisco will never see tomorrow. Michael and his entire family and friends will live with the sorrow. And many of us who did not personally know the brothers will grieve the loss of life of one brother and the tremendous sorrow another brother is left with.

We are all our brothers keepers.

Please God mend the broken hearts of the families and the broken hearts of the Youth and Please God help them live again.

In the Spirit of Love and Pain

My heart and prayers are extended to the Flores family and all affected by this tragedy. My heart and prayers are also extended to Patsy and may you again show us your beautiful smile. May God bless you one and all.

Rhonda Erwin

We should not stand divided or with conditional love to address youth violence

2010-12-22T08:00:39Z

On Monday, December 20th, I received two emails to attend the NAACP Press Conference scheduled for Tuesday December 21th, 2010 at 9:30am which ask for a Community to stand united “to engage in a process that will result in a strategic plan to end the senseless violence that has been occurring in our city.”

With all my heart and outrage I wanted to attend the conference. But with such short notice I was unable to get the morning off of work. Since I was not at the Press Conference and read an article in the daily paper which concerns me I am writing this open letter to the “Mayor, Leaders, Activists”, standing united.

To be honest I was both excited and disappointed. I am genuinely excited to learn a community consisting of families, leaders, activists and community members are mobilizing to address youth violence.

I am also disappointed. Where is Sacramento County Supervisor Jimmie Yee? The shooting deaths at Fly Cuts Barber Shop where two were killed, several were injured occurred in his district.

Why is Sacramento Mayor Johnson selectively addressing the deaths (and one which occured in the County of Sacramento)? Does it take a shooting death at Second Saturday which could affect businesses and a shooting death of a beautiful mother who shielded her baby boy from bullets in the county of Sacramento for the Mayor to address violence? Could this be a photo op for our mayor?

Many of us have doubts that Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson will significantly address youth violence after the ineffective, insignificant, unacceptable gang summit our mayor orchestrated.

My heart, prayers, love is extended to all the families mourning the loss of their loved one as a result of youth violence. My love is unconditional. But it appears some in Sacramento are placing conditional love on the victims (and their families) of violence.

It appears the media is determining who some should mourn and grieve for when there are two people who died as a result of the shooting at Fly Cuts. This separation can cause division. In fact how united are we standing If we are divided embracing one victim and dismissing, ignoring or overlooking two additional victims and overlooking all those who love them?

Three people lost their lives in Sacramento the past week. The two deaths getting very little attention, Antonne and Marvion are male youth 20yrs of age. The deaths which will occur more often will be male youth late teens and early 20's years of age. We should put emphasis on preventing their deaths as well as victms caught in the crossfire..

If you are going to stand up and address youth violence I suggest you put your best foot forward. This is not personal. (I like all the people involved in putting together this forum) But this is business. A community is in mourning. In less than a week two 20yr old youth were shot and killed. The daily paper as well as it appears our Mayor “leaders, activists, civil rights organizations” has placed emphasis on one homicide.

I know the death of the mother, Monique, who died protecting her son is very tragic. I too mourn her passing.

Equally important the past deaths of 26yr old Priscilla who just gave birth to twins and was shot and killed caught in the crossfire was also tragic. The death of 18yr old Christina who was shot and killed, caught in the crossfire was tragic. The death of 15yr old Shawtavia who was shot and killed caught in the crossfire was tragic. The death of 19yr old Tyesha a mother of one shot and killed caught in the crossfire was tragic. The death of 16yr old Jelisa shot and killed caught in the crossfire was tragic.

So very many have lost their lives caught in the crossfire, so yes, I am excited a community is standing united to address the violence.

I am excited we are mobilizing in efforts to address youth violence and I pray the recent deaths will not be in vain as the literally hundreds of deaths occuring in Sacramento have appeared to be in vain.

On December 21, 2010 another 20yr year old youth, Antonne, was shot and killed in the City of Sacramento. On my way home from work I went to the Church of Christ and stood in front of the candles at his vigil. I cried reading the words “Mom luvs u” on the teddy bear. I asked myself “How does this mother feel, her son dead and a community appearing to overlook his death?

I cried when I looked directly across the street and remembered the vigil of 18yr old D’Andre, I cried when I looked further down the street where the vigil was held for 21yr old Paul who was shot and killed . Tears flowed as I looked across the street where 21yr old Wesley body laid lifeless.

I stood and cried, tears flowing heavier when I looked less than a block where 18yr old Jack’s body was shot and killed. My tears begin to flow heavy and hard when I looked to the right of me where 23yr old Donte was shot and killed. I caught my breath and cried looking at the grassy area, to my left, where 21yr old Gregory was shot and killed and his body laid breathless.

I cried and cried thinking of all the lives lost and all the broken hearts.

I must send a warning. If you stand up to address youth violence you better do so with genuine efforts embracing an entire community affected and exposed to the violence or you will add insult to injury, pour salt on wounds, cause more harm than good and quite frankly cause some outrage.

If what I read in the daily paper is a reflection of how we are addressing youth violence I am disappointed but I will save that disappointment for another time.

I am however excited to learn the conference will result in a strategic plan to end the senseless violence.

I hope we start by 1) embracing all who mourn and grieve the loss of a loved one. We can start by also embracing some that main stream media may not embrace. There are literally hundreds of Sacramento teens and youth attending funerals of friends they love. The teens and youth are also in mourning. There are many families affected by the violence which has plagued Sacramento for decades, they too need to be embraced.

2) We can start by addressing social and emotional strength related to youth violence; incorporate and enhance programs such as the District Attorney's GIFT, CHOICES, Child Death Review Team models... (which failed to reach the community directly affected, influenced and exposed to youth violence)

3) We can develop the Youth Violence Council suggested in a detail report by the Surgeon General. Below are links to those programs: http://www.lhc.ca.gov/studies/159/report159.pdf Surgeon General Report/ Little Hoover Commission report to curb youth violence: Never Too early; Never too late to prevent youth violence. We don't have to reinvent the wheel or stand scratching our heads wondering what to do. The Surgeon General informed the state of California several years ago what should be done.

The report contains two essential conclusions: The first is that crime and violence among our young people can be prevented and we must work more diligently to seize the opportunities before us to reduce the harm.

4) We can not jump into every program, every idea.... as mentioned in http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/13/local/me-9863
June 13, 2001 LA Times article “State Bid to Curb Youth Violence Criticized Services“: Anti-crime effort is haphazard and underfunded, report says, citing studies showing that aggression is a learned behavior.

5) We should read and learn the National Child Death Review Team Keeping Kids Alive model and the Child Death Review Team Process and Conducting an effective Review. http://ican-ncfr.org

6) With adjustments.... the following models can also address youth on youth violence as it is mandatory by law within the California Death Review Team http://www.childdeathreview.org/spotlightCA.htm
http://www.keepingkidsalive.org/
http://kids.nsw.gov.au/kids/resources/publications/childdeathreview.cfm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1053/is_n2_v21/ai_13561144/

Sacramento has programs which include elementary and middle school on gun violence prevention but they NEVER reached the community greatly affected and exposed to violence. We should not bring the actual Distict Attorney programs since they never felt the need to address the community in need of the services. But we should bring the program models to the communities affected/ exposed to the violence.

7) Sacramento's District Attorney's GIFT Program - Provides gun information for Middle School students: District Attorney GIFT (Gun Impact For Teens) Program is to educate students about the legal, medical and emotional consequences of youth gun possession and related gun violence, as well as encouraging young people to consider options and choices available to them in situations involving guns. http://www.sacda.org/gift/

8) Sacramento's District Attorney Choices program which also never reached the community greatly affected/ exposed to violence. (elementary school program) provides gun information for elementary school students: Sacramento’s District Attorney CHOICES Program created in 2006 to educate 5th and 6th grade students about the dangers associated with guns. http://www.sacda.org/pr/PDFs/Advisories/Choices%20Press%20Release%20_final_.pdf

9) Our governor veteo the initiative for a High School Program. I previously met with both Dr Dursten and Dr Wang of Physicians for Social Responsibility and discussed gun violence in urban communities . Many people stand and will stand united to address youth violence the concerns goes beyond color, organizations and community leaders. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=30598 We can bring this initiative to our next governor.

There is far more that we can do than stand in front of the Press, cameras, media and do what has been done repeatedly--- ignorantly attempting to arrest away crime. And we must do more than reach out to the community affected and exposed to violence with conditional love.

In the Spirit of Love

Rhonda Erwin

Mayor Johnson doing a Drive By as our Children Die- Part I

2010-09-08T18:53:30Z

This article is written with hopes that Mayor Johnson will drive his newly purchased $51,000 tax-payer Black SUV to the Intersection of Life and Freedom for Sacramento area youth. We are fed up with our Mayor driving by our pain and suffering.

As it currently stands our Mayor drives through the city with his tax-payer paid tinted windows like Mr Magoo shielding just himself as youth life and youth Freedom blows in the wind in the city of Trees. Sacramento has a Mayor who can't seem to see the forest (our youth) through the trees. He is constantly distracted with his own desires, wants and self promotion. When will he promote Life and Freedom?

On August 29, 2010 Alonzo Haynes, 23yrs young, was shot. His Black SUV came to a halt and he died. Two are facing charges of murder in Sacramento Superior Court. One suspect is 22yrs young.

What is our Mayor doing? He's not sacrifacing. He's dismissing the pain and suffering of many within the Sacramento community as he rides around in his $51,000 dollar newly paid for by tax-payers Black SUV with tinted windows with police bodyguards in a city in deficit.

Many Sacramento residents are losing their jobs. Sacramento teens/ youth lose their life, freedom, hope and some are losing their minds. But our celebrity mayor makes no sacrifcaes. Our community centers are closing, many from Parks and Recreations have lost their jobs. Our Office of Youth Development no longer exists. The city is in deficit. Hundreds of Sacramento city teens/youth have died and hundreds more have left Sacramento to become the walking dead in a California State Prison.

Our Mayor who holds weekly press conferences but hasn't held one press conference to address the violence plaguing this city nor has he reached out to the community affected by and exposed to the violence.

On our Mayor's blog in big bold words are 'Progress happens, problems are solved and businss flouish." When will we see our Youth flourish? Written on his blog are the words, 'Bank on Sacramento, everyone is welcome." When will a community divided into youth victims and youth suspects feel welcome to live and breath in a city where neighborhoods have the aroma of constant death?

On our Mayors blog are the words, 'Stand up with Kevin. A city that works for everyone." Many of us can't stand up we are falling to our knees in pain as our youth are falling, shot down lifeless, gunshot wounds to the head, neck, back, chest, a premature death.

On our Mayors blog our governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, writes, 'I love this guy. Great, great enthusiasm and he's alwasy been a great leader and believed in children and educaiton." Our Governor turned a blind eye and deaf ear to our cries just as our Mayor continues to brury his head in the sand as our children die. Our mayor believes in education because it promotes him.

Surely if Mayor Johnson loved our children and showed great, great enthusiasm he would address the youth deaths and arrests mounting in Sacramento, the City Time Magazine once voted as the best place to raise a family. Hundreds of us can't raise our children from the dead and Hundreds more can not afford the costs to visit our children leaving Sacramento ---not college bound but prison bound ---to be raised in a California state prison.

Our celbrity Mayor who could have / should have purchased his own $51,000 SUV claims he will put Sacramento on the Map and make Sacramento a world class city. How? By ignoring the fact our chldren are dying? By dismissing the fact our children are walking zombies in a post tramatic psychological frozen state and many more are becoming the walking dead? Too many of our children are not walking across graduation stages. Instead they are walking across prison yards or lying 6 feet in the ground in a casket covered in dirt- dead.

We have officials, especially our Mayor, who would rather ignorantly shift crime than prevent crime. Instead of addressing youth violence prevention our Mayor continuously looks for suppression and hire more officers. He'll saturate one area, folks will move to another area and the violence becomes a cancerous polyop spreading throughout the city.

A 26yr old Woman, mother of 3, is killed on September 4, 2010 on Florin and Power Inn. Sergeant Tim Curran states, in a recent Sac Bee article, 'We learned the gas station is a gatheing spot.". What the heck? Surely, they didn't just learn it was a gathering spot? That area is not a stranger to violence and you can't possibly work in law enforcement and not know of the consistent violence throughout that area over the years.

Heck, I recall an 18yr old boy shot eighteen times in 2006 on Florin Road and Power Inn. His father said, ''bullets were even in my sons groin." I recall 26yr old Mother of 3 who just gave birth to twins was shot and killed in the same area a couple years ago. Heck, less than 2 blocks away I recall 5 were shot and 3 died at the nearby grocery store in 2005.

In that same area in July 2010 21yr old was shot and killed. An 18yr old is facing charges of murder. Our Mayors response has continuously been "we need more officers.'

In July 2010, a 19yr old youth was convicted of the murder of a Sheriff deputy. The boy was 16yrs old when arrested for the murder. On the day of that shooting an entire neighborhood was saturated, blocked off, closed down as every branch of law enforcement saturaged the area to find the 16yr old suspect. Their were so many officers from so many different branches of law enforcement arriving within minutes of the deputy being shot that many officers had to be told not to come to the area.

With all the officers closing down the area, the 16yr old suspect left the area on the light rail. I sat on the lightrail as the boy and a girl walked on. They sat directly in front off me. The boy was nervous, scared and the girl held him. I got off on Florin Road and they took the lightrail to Meadowview. What happened to the youth center that was suppose to be placed in honor of the murdered deputy? It seems the community affected and exposed to violence continuously receives propaganda verses solutions into preventing violence.

Yesterday I contacted the District Attorney's Office, Sacramento Public Defenders Office, Master Calendar of Superior Court and attempted to contact the Criminal Indigent Defense Panel to get the number of teens and youth currently facing charges of Murder in Sacramento. No one has yet called me back with the information I requested. No one I spoke with knew the answer of how many Sacramento youth are facing charges of murder. Their is no record, no data, no statistics, no evidence based, research based, scieftifica base study for us to prevent the deaths or the arrests leading to the deaths of our children.

Recently twleve boys and girls were arrested and charged with the murder of a 15yr old. I am told eight were arrested and charged with the murder of a 17yr old. I learned three are arrested and charged with the murder of an 18yr old. Five were arrested and charged with anothe murder. Two are shot, one dies, five arrested, three are shot five arrested, two die, it goes on and on and the violence continues, the pain continues, our cries echo from one Sacramento neighborhood to another. If I don't receive the information I requested I will submit Part II (Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse) without it.

The next time Mayor Johnson holds a press ocnference perhaps he can tell us of the number of deaths and arrest of area youth and his plans to address the violence plaguing this city. In fact, I am requesting, our mayor give a press conference each month informing the residents of Sacramnto of the number of deaths and arrests of Sacramento area residents. I am requesting comprehensive evidence based, researched based, study each month of the locations of death, cause, and solutins

Perhaps now, Mayor Johnson will drive his tax-payer SUV to the interception of Life and Freedom on the corner of mounting pain and suffering to address youth violence. Perhaps now he won't ride in his Black tinted windows SUV doing a drive by- ignoring and dismissing the loss of life and loss of freedom of many Sacramento area teens and youth.

But I won't hold my breath, I will probably end up like so many of Sacramento area youth--lying breathless as our Mayor drives by like Mister Magoo as youth are dying and becoming the walking dead headed off to prison.

A community divided into victims and suspects is fed up with Mayor Johnson doing a drive by as our children die on Sacramento streets and becoming the walking dead in California prisons.

Rhonda Erwin

I want to add I contacted our Mayors office weeks ago for an appointment to discuss youth violence. I was told I could meet with him in Octover at the Pannel Center for an open house. But I will now respectfully deline that offer, when I meet with the mayor on a matter of this magnitude I want his undivided attention. There is no excuse for our Mayors ignorance in addressing youth violence-- too many of Sacramento's youngest residents, our children, are dying and far more of Sacramento's youngest residents, our children, are sentenced to live and die in a California State Prison.

Moving beyond a Silence the Violence forum to an Urban Peace Movement

2010-06-18T18:45:08Z

Sacramento will join the Urban Peace Movement to Silence the Violence.

Recently I’ve learned of several upcoming events which call on youth to Silence the Violence. I do not make light of the efforts and I do appreciate the efforts of everyone who addresses youth violence.

Previously in Sacramento many organizations held forums to address youth violence. Input and participation from the families directly affected and exposed to the violence was often absent from the development of the events. Families were often asked to attend but looked upon as a part of the problem and not a part of the solution.

Youth and families were often overlooked in efforts towards solutions.

Some addressing the violence will gather those affected and exposed to the violence stomp around as if they have the magic bullet to end the violence. They attempt to “whip those kids into shape” creating a power-over the community affected by the violence verses a power-with the community. The group spends a great deal of time focusing on changing the youth’s appearance, speech, hair…

The look-at-me and do-as-I-do approach of telling the youth all they’re doing wrong is seldom effective.

Some who address the violence will parade around as peacocks, putting together a program looking at who they can invite, calling upon council members, Chief of Police… They spend so much time looking at those they consider the powers to be that they actually spend so little time looking at reaching the youth—the powers within - to invite to the forum.

The forum can appear to look more like a meet and greet elected and non elect officials; than seeing or reaching the youth directly affected by the violence.

And there are people, who are also concerned of the violence, who will put together an event in attempts to get a grant. Their main focus is the grant and not the people. The group is so busy looking at money they actually spend too little time looking at the people directly affected and exposed to the violence.

Again, I don’t make light of their efforts each event just might have reached one saved one. However if we are to address youth violence we all can play a role in solutions to empower the youth and reduce the violence.

‘Since 2006, the Ella Baker Center has helped build a movement to bring peace to Oakland’s streets through our Silence The Violence Campaign. By focusing on solutions that address the root causes of violence, we’ve brought together individuals, community organizations, businesses and elected officials to uplift young people in the Bay Area with a mix of social activism and street culture. We are proud of what we accomplished together.” For additional information on their efforts please visit http://www.ellabakercenter.org/page.php?pageid=14

The Ella Baker Center has divided their time and energy from systematic change to individual transformation. The Ella Baker Center has held many events which include ‘Mother Morning/ Mourning’ to heal the streets http://www.ellabakercenter.org/page.php?pageid=75 and they have now joined the Urban Peace Movement. http://www.ellabakercenter.org/page.php?pageid=1

The Urban Peace Movement “helps young people spread the message of urban peace. / http://urbanpeacemovement.org

Sacramento mother Shirley Rhodes is determined to move with and beyond Silence the Violence events and move towards an Urban Peace Movement. As a youth violence activist I do not make light of the efforts of anyone addressing youth violence. Having attended many forums/ events to address youth violence, I am impressed with Shirley Rhodes genuine efforts.

Shirley’s son, Michael Barron was shot and killed in the city of Sacramento. Since the funeral of her son I have seen Shirley at council sessions addressing youth violence. I’ve attended the Critical Resistence 2010 Oakland workshop with her. Her heart and passion is genuine and sincere.

She lost her first born son as he was shot and killed while sitting in his car at a Valley Hi area mini mall and she is actively reaching out in the spirit of love, to reach and save more youth from death on a Sacramento street . She attempts to also reach those who have become stuck in a revolving door in and out of the prison industry.

Shirley labors for Sacramento area youth to live and know freedom. She attempts to find resources and empower them to redirect their lives. For more information on the foundation created by Shirley Rhodes in memory of her son, please visit, www.themikebfoundation.com

Shirley is calling on the families affected and exposed to the violence to join in paying homage to the lives lost in Sacramento. She is calling on those not directly affected to also attend the forum to pay homage to the lives and families affected by the violence. Shirley is attempting to shift the paradigm from a power-over the community to a power-with the community.

I commend her for her efforts and her overwhelming love for our youth. The Mike B Foundation will add the research and outreach of the Silence the Violence campaigns and the Urban Peace Movement to combine with research and efforts from within our own Sacramento community for answers, solutions, input, and outreach to allow Sacramento youth to live and live a life without being surrounded with bars.

On July 24, 2010 Sacramento, through the Mike B Foundation, will join the National Day of Action to heal our streets. http://urbanpeacemovement.org/national-day-of-action . The Mike B Foundation will hold the ‘Silence the Violence National Day of Action event on Florin Road and Franklin Blvd, (old Wal-Mart Parking Lot) beginning at 10am.

Sponsors are needed. Resource booths are encouraged. Donations of monetary, ice, hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, bottled water… are all needed and appreciated.

All families affected and exposed to the violence who would like to participate in the forum, wear T-Shirts of your loved one, set up a booth to give information about the life and passing of your loved one, are welcome to attend, participate and educate.

Please contact Shirley Rhodes for additional information. (916) 429-2580

Sacramento mother Shirley Rhodes attempts to seek life and freedom for Sacramento area youth. She walks by the Grace of God, to address youth violence having lost her own son. She will continue to walk if it is the will of God to Save Sacramento Sons and Daughters from the same tragic death which took her sons lif and she walks with determination and love.

Again, Donations in the Spirit of Love are needed and the donations are accepted in the Spirit of Love.

Photos: Murdered victim Michael Barron, taken in Dec 2006. Shirley Rhodes, Michael's mother) with her youngest son, David, (next to her in yellow T-shirt) also pictured are 6 of the 7 children ages 2-13yrs of slain homicide victim Michael Barron.

Vigil light for Marque Johnson

2010-03-18T06:28:27Z

Hundreds of Sacramento teens filled the streets mourning the death of 17yr-old Marque Johnson. Often in the silent night a loud cry could be heard by someone crying out "Not Marque, Please not Marque."

Most of the teens cried silently with tears flowing heavily and strongly down their young faces.

Marque is loved and will be missed by many. It was apparent the teen touched many lives. At one point I counted 287 people but then I lost count as many would come and some could no longer stand and were escorted off by friends or family members.

Teens held on to one another carrying teddy bears, candles, pictures and posters each wanting Marque to know they love him.

Someone rode to the vigil in a minivan and written in chalk on the windows were the words: 'Rest In Peace Marque. Sunrise May 6, 1992 - Sunset March 16, 2010."

A man made his way through the crowd and said, 'I am Marque's uncle. I love my nephew. Thank you all for coming" and he began telling the teens of all the violence and how much he cares for them and wants them to live.

Marquis grandmother addressed the crowd singing spiritual songs. As she sang the teens begin to sing with her and many who hadn't cried began to cry. His grandmother's pain was evident and her soft voice trembled of God's love. His grandmother said, "They killed his body but you were NOT able to kill his soul. Marque gave his life to Christ."

Marque's mother appeared to walk on air. Her movements were slow. In her face all I could see was pain and sorrow. After Marque's grandmother spoke his mother said, "I want to also say, thank you. Yes, Marque's gave his life to Christ last week." His mother's love was powerful yet she was so weak. A mother shouldn't have bury her child. Her child is suppose to one day bury her.

Another family member stated, 'It's okay, he's alright. He's with God. He's in a better place. Vengeance is mine said the Lord. I want everyone to be safe and stay safe." A family in deep pain, who needs comforting, was there in the spirit of love to comfort the hundreds of teens filling the sidewalk of Summerdale and Mack Road.

Many teens, who could get through the crowd, lined up to sign the many posters. Youth stood reading the many Bible verses and scriptures placed on the fence near where Marque's breathless body laid.

The candles would burn low as the teens stood for hours, holding one another and sharing their fondest memory of Marque.

A woman standing near the crowd said, "this shouldn't of happened to him. He was a good boy. He came to my kids birthday parties and was always so polite" She cried and walked away.

Officers from the Sacramento Police Department were present. The officers stood in the background not disturbing the crowd. Sgt D.T. Martin stated, "We're here to make sure it is a safe environment for everybody. We know it is ongoing problems in the area. We don't want it to be interrupted by folks who may be responsible or associated with the death."

The family and the teens attending the vigil were treated with the dignity and respect they truly deserve as they mourn the passing of Marque Johnson.

This morning a mother sent her son off to school never thinking he would die before reaching school. She had no idea the son she loves so much would never walk back through her door.

Tonight, a child of God, Marque Johnson is mourned by hundreds who stood with tears flowing down their young faces on a dark Sacramento street. They can't believe their friend is gone. In the darkness their was no silent night as the cries echo for Marque Johnson.

My prayers, love and support is extended to all who knew and loved Marque Johnson.

Rhonda Erwin

(I received a contact number for Marque's family but I didn't want to interrupt the family tonight as they grieve so I did not call and get the names of the family members who spoke.)

Continued: Thank you Sacramento Press

2009-11-19T08:10:16Z

Continued from Part 1

Thank you Sacramento Press: Our Cries echo- contnued

Last month I attended a justice march and rally. An elderly man walked with the group from the District Attorney's office to Sacramento superior court and then we walked to the federal courthouse. The man carried one of the signs provided by the organizers of the march which mentioned criminal justice system unfair to minorities. The man was Caucasian. His middle-aged son said, "Dad, you are not a minority why are you carrying the sign?" The elderly man said, "It's the only one they have and we're here due to an unfair court." I saw a man who was not black, walking in pain due to court misconduct, who had to settle on a sign regarding race when his pain was due to court injustice.

I'm taking steps towards healing by walking beyond race. I don't want to walk on a treadmill. I can't live in the past when I am looking for a future. Having attended so many youth violence meetings, summits, workshops, funerals and courts I don't see things as I did in 2005. For me race is a distraction, and too many will focus on race when our focus should be on life and freedom of all of Sacramento's sons and daughters. When you've seen so many in a great deal of pain you don't want distractions. If I were shot and in the hospital I would not want anyone to look at the fact a black woman is shot. I would want you to look at how to prevent shootings. I would want you to look at my wounds and not my color. It is my wound which causes me pain. I would not want the fact death would be overshadowed by meetings on race. As people met to discuss racial concerns homicide concerns would take a back-seat.

I truly, with all my heart appreciate being among the winners of the Sacramento Press journalism award. With all my heart, I appreciate the beautiful words written about the article I wrote, but I must pay homage to those who have lost their lives and those who are in pain due to the death or arrest of their loved one, and I must do so in truth and not focus solely on African American youth. Addressing youth violence goes beyond color, beyond boundaries, beyond territory, beyond gang-like mentality.

When I would visit my son in jail, I would sit next to mothers of different ethnic backgrounds visiting their sons and on the way out we all cried colorless tears. I don't imagine a mother, who is not black, walking into her dead child's room and finding any comfort in the fact youth of their ethnic background have died less than youth of my ethnic background. I don't think they find comfort in their ethnic background when they have lost a child they loved. Pain goes beyond color. In fact, pain is stronger than color.

With all my heart I appreciate the award, but I could not in good conscience, in the spirit of love, not correct the fact the youth I wrote of were not only African Americans. I've seen too many colorless tears and I pray for resources for all. I mentioned of all the times I was outraged, but once I left my comfort zone, my outrage left from focusing on my ethnic background when I began to see so many more in the same pain. I walked throughout the city of Sacramento until I walked out of my skin and saw the pain of so many more.

In 2005 I was outraged when I saw a room filled with people to address police brutality and no rooms filled with people to address youth on youth violence I was outraged when every month in 2005 and sometimes more than once a month black youth died at the hands of another black youth. I was outraged when I attended a funeral of a murdered teen and the pastor said, "If anyone sees someone from my congregation hanging out on the corner call me and I will go get them". I sat in disbelief and wondered, "What kind of man are you who have 100 sheep and one is lost, that you don't leave the 99 and go out into the wilderness to get the one which is lost?" I wondered, why does the youth have to be from your congregation? I kept seeing gang-like mentality.

I never knew where this journey would take me but it took me beyond race. In 2005 I saw racial neglect but I didn't see it solely as black and white. I saw many people of different ethnic backgrounds overlooking or dismissing the deaths of someone just like themselves if they had a questionable past. I saw many people who would blanket us, cover us up as if we did not exist. I saw many who would uncover us once funding became available. I learned gang-like mentality is not just among youth or those identified as gang members. I've also learned money is valued more than many people. I learned it is not racial. Crime does pay. I learned many of us - of all ethnic backgrounds- have become commodities. I learned many of all ethnic backgrounds are overlooked as many focus on political careers, their organizations and their departments for money. I learned many will be divided, overshadowed, overlooked by grant funding.

In addressing youth violence I learned to see beyond my color and I learned too see all our sons and daughters. I pay homage to the deceased and the families of all ethnic backgrounds. When I learned to see "one of our own" means more than color, my vision was no longer clouded with distractions of race and my outrage turned to genuine concern for the life and freedom of all our son's and daughters.

By the Grace of God, I learned to see love and not the color of a person's skin. I learned to see pain and not distractions. I have met so many wonderful people African American, Caucasian, Latino, Native American, Chinese, Hmong, Mien, Lao, East Indian, Samoan, Japanesse, Filipino, Pacific Islander.. each concerned with life and freedom of all our sons and daughters. Since 2005 I have met people from all walks of life, all faiths, those who do not believe in organized religion or don't believe in religiion at all, people from different economic, social, ethnic backgrounds willing to address youth violence in the spirit of Love.

The common denominator is LOVE and not COLOR. I learned, by seeing so much unconditional love, to go beyond writing an article solely on African American youth when so many more are dying on our streets or sentenced to live and die in a California State Prison. I learned to see beyond race when some within the same ethnic background would dismiss the life and freedom and when I saw people of all ethnic backgrounds will address life and freedom. I learned in addressing youth violence not to generalize people by ethnic, economic, religious or social status. I learned many of us -- divided into communities of victims and suspects -- are loved conditionally when funding is available. And equally important I learned many more love us unconditionally.

Again, thank you Sacramento Press for extending love and hearing the cries of all affected and exposed to violence. I am truly honored to receive second place when so many community members wrote such wonderful articles.

Rhonda Erwin

Thank you Sacramento Press! - Cries Echo

2009-11-19T08:08:42Z

Thank you Sacramento Press!

It is an honor and I am truly grateful to receive second place when so many talented, insightful and knowledgeable contributors such as William Burg, Ali Tabatabai, Marion Millin, Michael Zwahlen, Kate Traci, Ryan Kinsel, Sue Wilson, Anne Lowe and so many others wrote wonderful and informative articles. I never expected to win.

I truly appreciate an opportunity to allow the voice of so many of us to be heard. I truly appreciate Sacramento Press for allowing me to pay homage to the youth who have lost their lives as a result of youth violence.

On behalf of those who have lost their lives and on behalf of all the friends, siblings, parents and grandparents affected by the loss of a loved one, I truly appreciate Sacramento Press for hearing our cries which echo from one neighborhood to another.

In 2002, I lived on Valley Hi Drive when an 18-year-old girl was driving on Valley Hi with friends. A passenger in the vehicle yelled out to someone walking on Valley Hi Drive and gunshots erupted. The girl was shot in the back and lost control of her car. Her friend, a passenger, attempted to grab the wheel as the girl sat in the driver's seat dying. The bullet someone intended for the passenger struck and killed the 18-year-old girl.

I know a bullet has no name, but the deceased - a beautiful girl- had a name, a life, a family. Her name was Christine Cheatman. I never met her family but I mourned the passing of their daughter. I think it's important I mention that "Our cries echo from one Sacramento neighborhood to another" is not solely regarding African American youth. The young girl who drove down Valley Hi Drive, shot, lost control of her car, wrecked, dead from a gunshot wound was Caucasian. I pay homage to Caucasian youth murdered as a result of youth violence.

20-year-old Adam - gunshot wound to the back is Caucasian. 17-year-old Paul - gunshot wound to the back is Caucasian. 19-year-old Jeremy - multiple gunshot wounds is Caucasian. 19-year-old Mathew - gunshot wounds head and chest is Caucasian. 18-year-old Joshua - gunshot wounds to the head is Caucasian. 17-year-old Amber - multiple gunshot wounds is Caucasian.

I wrote of the mother awakening to find her son James dying in his brother's arms, and I have to respect the families I wrote about and I have to respect the ethnic backgrounds and loss of life of all. Young James, who also died a premature death, is Latino.

The father, who called me and whose son I visited in the morgue, is Latino. The mother, Debbie, carried to her son's grave, is Latino. 19-year-old Richard, whose aunt works in public safety, is Latino. 19-year-old Ismael, shot in the torso, is Latino. 18-year-old Oscar, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, is Latino.

On May 30, 2005, then-Police Chief Najera (in passing, when complaints were made toward an alleged police brutality case) stated, "A black young man between the ages of 16-24, in the city of Sacramento has a 50-percent chance to die and he is dying at the hands of another black young man." I read in a Sacramento County African American youth had a 47-percent chance of incarceration.

Each year I read the Sacramento County Child Death Review Team report and learned African American babies died at an alarming rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.(SIDS) I was outraged and wondered could infant death and teen homicide death be the reason African American youth only represented 7 percent of the youth population? I attended several workshops and I learned the County department of Health , organizations and many residents were addressing the SIDS deaths but so few addressed youth death and youth arrest.

I was outraged in 2006 when the chief stood before then-Mayor Fargo at a special meeting relating to youth violence and appeared shocked of the mounting deaths and arrests and stated, "I didn't see this coming," when media attention toward the deaths/arrest of area youth began to surface. Surely the District Attorney and the Police Chief would have access to information to know youth of all ethnic backgrounds between the ages of 13 and 24 were dying as a result of youth violence. I knew, due to his 2005 statement, the police chief was aware African American teens had a 50-percent chance to die and at that time SPD had a 92-percent arrest rate. I saw death and arrest as the only solution for youth violence. I was outraged.

I was outraged when I attended the Annual County Child Death Review Team hearing and learned of the significant efforts to address youth taking the lives of themselves, (teen suicide) youth killed by adults (child abuse-child neglect) and insignificant efforts toward youth-on-youth violence.

I was outraged when I learned of the efforts of the District Attorney's grant-funded program GIFT (Gun Impact For Teens) and knowing the GIFT of life and freedom never reached a community (schools in underprivileged neighborhoods) directly affected and exposed to violence.

I was outraged when I attended the annual victims assistance rally and saw photos of crime victims whose families could not receive victims assistance since their loved one had a questionable past but their photos would be paraded in what I saw as a crime victims-CDCR-political agenda.

When 13-year-old Lenny was shot and killed, I mourned his passing. He was shot while standing outside with friends less than a mile from where I lived.

I attended the Hmong, Mien, Lao task force meeting where city, county, state officials, SCUSD officials and community members were present to address violence after Lenny's death. Prior to Lenny's death a Hmong youth was shot and killed on Florin Road in broad daylight. Days apart a black youth was also shot and killed in broad daylight on Mack Road. Several articles ran in the daily paper regarding Hmong gangs need swift broad response, Hmong gang situation urgent... One person stated in an article, "Hmong gangs came into existence due to pre-existing African American and Hispanic gangs to protect themselves." I was outraged. If African American and Latino gangs were "pre-existing" why simply address Hmong gangs with swift broad response? If the gangs were to protect themselves from African American and Latino gangs why were Hmong youth killed by other Hmong youth?

For the most part everytime I learned of a death the victim was of the same ethnic background as the suspect. I wondered if perhaps the youth didn't value the life of someone just like themselves when it appeared the city didn't value the lives or freedom of all youth. I wanted resources for Hmong youth but I was outraged seeing so many elected officials only looking for resources for Hmong youth. I was outraged seeing so much division. Everywhere I looked I saw gang-like mentality. I saw some dismissing "some of their own" if they had a questionable past. And some dismissing some who were not the same ethnic background just for not being the same ethnic background.

I will admit, initially, I was outraged when I sat in the Hmong Mien, Lao Taskforce meeting and a middle-aged leader said, "Anyone can help but this task force is only for Hmong, Mien, Lao youth." However, I attended several Hmong, Mien and Lao taskforce meetings and I was impressed with the efforts of the task-force and their ability and willingness to guarantee life and freedom for their youth. I attended many community meetings, marches, rallies. In 2005 I held several townhall meetings. I worked with people of all ethnic backgrounds on a march/ rally to save the lives of all Sacramento youth, so I appreciate the efforts of everyone.

Whenever I learned of a teen/ youth death I mourned regardless of area, regardless of economic, social and ethnic background. Death has no color. Prevention or mourning should not be conditional. I looked everywhere for unconditional love.

I respect the fact that culture is also prevention. I pay homage to Hmong youth murdered as a result of youth violence. 18-year-old Cha - gunshot wound to the chest. 19-year-old Gao - gunshot wound to the head. 19-year-old Ker - gunshot wound to the head. 20-year-old Tommy - gunshot wound to the torso.

But the separation by ethnic background is prominent more among middle-aged folks than youth.
Every funeral I ever attended there were youth present of all different ethnic backgrounds. A black youth who died was not buried solely by black youth, there were many different ethnic backgrounds attending the funeral. At funerals I saw love has no color.

I've seen black youth at funerals of homicide victims who are not black. I saw friends of all ethnic backgrounds mourning the loss of a friend. I fail to see how simply reaching out to "one of our own" will prevent much violence when youth violence is generally self-hate and youth hurting someone just like themselves, same ethnic, social, economic background. I failed to see how simply reaching out to one of our own will prevent much violence when youth are influenced, impressed, associated, affiliated, friends with so many other youth.

It appeared the youth didn't value lives of someone just like themselves, so I appreciate cultural empowerment. I wanted the youth to see community leadership in their ethnic background verses gang membership. I wanted to no longer see gang culture masguerade as youth culture. I learned to see the value in reaching out to "one of our own" to show love for self and culture. But I still believed a greater love was needed otherwise the youth are a reflection of some adults- divided by groups. I wondered how can we disarm gang violence with gang-mentality? The youth should see and know they are embraced and loved by people of all ethnic backgrounds.Perhaps then they would have a greater love for self.

To address youth violence, I strongly feel we need to go beyond our own race when youth and gangs are often divided within race and not often divided by race.

I pay homage to Russian youth whose bodies lay dead on Sacramento streets. 17-year-old Pavel - shot in the torso and killed. 22-year-old Igor - shot in the chest and killed. 21-year-old Dimitry - shot in the neck and chest and killed. I learned our cries echo in English and the voices of languages other than English. I learned our tears are colorless, our pain is colorless and our spirit is colorless.

I pay homage to Asian youth murdered: 19-year-old Vihn - gunshot wound, 23-year-old Nicki - gunshot wound to chest, 21-year-old Diane - gunshot wound to to the head. 18-year-old Tan - gunshot wound to head.

I pay homage to Pacific Islander youth murdered. 19-year-old Samuel - gunshot wound to chest. 23-year-old Rocky, a Samoan youth - gunshot wound to head. 21-year-old Kam, a Cambodian youth - gunshot wound to chest. I pay homage to East Indian youth murdered who died in Sacramento as a result of youth violence. 19-year-old Jarnail - dead. 17-year-old Navid shot in the back and hand, dying, in a car with his friend by his side. 21-year-old Neelesh shot in the head. 18-year-old Michael shot in the head.

I pay homage to Filipino youth shot and killed. 20-year-old Ryan shot in the head and neck. 18-year-old Rhea shot in the head...

I pay homage to Vietnamese youth shot and killed. 19-year-old Vinh - gunshot wound to the head...

I pay homage to Laotian youth shot and killed. 18-year-old Southalay shot and killed.

I pay homage to Chinese youth shot and killed. 17-year-old Quang shot in the head.

I pay homage to Korean youth shot and killed. 24-year-old Brittany shot in the head.

I pay homage to African American youth whose bodies have also lain dead on Sacramento streets. 18-year-old Jack, 16-year-old Curtis, 21-year-old Donald, 17-year-old Deantwean, 16-year-old Phillip, 16-year-old Rodney, 15-year-old Shavtavia.

To be fair Sacramento officials have discriminated on where services addressing youth violence would go but they have not discriminated on who dies or who is sentenced to a life in prison. A 14-year-old girl was arrested and faced life without parole and she was not black. Two 16-year-old's were arrested for murder and faced life in prison and they were not black. An 18-year-old sentenced to life in prison and he was not black. Another 16-year-old arrested and facing life in prison for murder and he is not black. A 14-year-old black teen arrested for murder. Many have taken their last breath on Sacramento streets and many more will live and breathe in a California prison.

The dead on our streets and the walking dead - as a result of youth violence - in California State Prisons are also of all different ethnic backgrounds. Many of them not possessing prejudice or hate of different ethnic backgrounds until they enter one of California prisons where gangs are then divided by race. Some have gone from self-hate to hating others of different ethnic backgrounds once entering a California prison.

See Part 2 of this story here

Response to Sacramento Steps Forward Initiative article/ Mayor Johnson

2009-11-06T20:06:07Z

Letter in regards to Sacramento Steps Forward Initiative article:

With all my heart I wanted to read the article and only see the good. With all my heart I wanted to not write anything negative towards such a positive step for this city. But in all honesty the article raised deep concerns and to avoid writing a long post I'm writing my concerns here. Is this a Step forward? When will a community begin to Take Steps Towards Healing??? I feel as though sometimes we takes steps and then we step on a treadmill and no longer move forward.

I've addressed youth violence for many years. I've seen many "steps forward" which ended in people walking in reverse or walking on a treadmill. I've watched the recognition, funding, employment positions go to everyone but those affected and or exposed to the violence. I know what it feels like to hurt so bad and have that hurt compounded when poverty pimps ride in alleging to save the day with hidden or not so hidden agenda's or for the love of money and not the love of people.

In addressing youth violence I've seen people parade around as peacocks more interested in themselves than the cause. I've seen people manipulate and sway public interest and it compounds our pain. I've watched the homeless come to city hall weekly and it is my opinion that Mayor Johnson's continuous statement of " the homeless do not need a handout, they need a hand up, they want to be empowered" Can the homeless get credit? After all they were at city hall each week begging for shelter and informing the mayor of the empowerment and resources they needed. The mayor's comment adds insult to injury , it underestimates and insults the intelligence of many.

Mayor Johnson is appearing to once again make himself look good by ---this time inadvertently--- by not only making the homeless look bad but by also making the city counsel look bad. I appreciate the beautiful, heart-felt and insightful comment written by both bbbbmer and William Burg on the article. Bbbbmer writes, ".... We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, and there but for the grace of God go you or I... But a nice P.R. event, complete with appearances by minor celebrity backers of this mayor, is not enough. This merely turns such efforts into a party... The proof of the puddin' will be when such parties materialize into real units of shelter -- not just 'beds' -- but four walls, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a job, for all who need it..." -- AMEN

It is a shame that community members are put in a position to where we have to make our mayor's " fastest move our slowest". Is he looking at the homeless or is he looking at himself? Personally I don't care how the homeless get shelter. I'd want the homeless to have shelter by hook or crook. But I do care of what occurs beyond the shelter. It's like we have a mayor playing a game of chest and doing so with the homeless. It is concerning and overwhelmingly painful when it appears we have a mayor making the homeless--Prawns. It appears the homeless are Prawns being bumped around by people protecting the King (the Mayor). The special assistants, strategists, campaign managers, volunteers (the rook, knight, Bishop, queen) all protecting the Mayor gliding across the board (community) as the prawns (homeless) can only take one step at a time and able to be bumped off by everyone on the board including themselves....

I know what it feels like to be a prawn and be overshadowed by everything and everyone because in addressing youth violence - I too have been a prawn- but I do know the prawn can be taken out but is also the only player in the game who doesn't remain the same and can come back on the board as a higher player. I give thanks and appreciation to the homeless not Lisa Ling, Mayor Johnson....

It is wonderful that people are extending love to the homeless. But for goodness sake why does it appear LOVE is being used for promotion? It breaks my heart.

Love is a 2-way street, we are not riding on one way roads. We appear to be sending out a message of love for the homeless but where is the mention of the love possessed by the homeless? The love of the homeless, loving enough, to stand with Johnson as he overshadows love with promotion. Johnson is appearing as a knight in shining armor to help the homeless when it is the homeless who are helping Johnson and others with recognition. The "Give a man a fish he can eat for a day; teach him how to fish he can eat for a lifetime" goes both ways. The homeless issue has taught ( is empowering) Mayor Johnson how to fish. Mayor Johnson appears to have his hand out instead of looking, working, laboring for a hand-up.

Johnson should give credit and respect to the homeless for teaching him how to fish through homelessness instead of appearing to ride in on a high-horse to save the day. I've watched so many take credit on issues regarding youth violence and so many of us who are actually laboring for free without pay, without even wanting credit are seen as simply wanting our hand-outs.

It breaks my heart every time I look in this city for a dove of peace and I find another vulture surrounding the crisis of the poor for either profit or recognition into advancing a department or career.

Our mayor isn't doing anything that people with limited resources haven't tried to do and with resources at his disposal he should do it. I can't in all honestly give kudo's to him for not going beyond what is expected. He is doing what is expected of a Mayor - with a weak form of government or strong. We know he can take photos, we know he has no problem with promoting himself. We know often times it appears he does just enough to get it mentioned and not enough to get the job done. Heck the gang/ youth summit was a good photo and nothing more...

I give the initiative Sacramento Steps Forward the benefit of the doubt since so many others are laboring who I feel are sincere at heart. Heck I expect to see more good deeds from Johnson (that his PR team will make sure doesn't go unnoticed and make sure the counsel is not noticed) as he moves towards his Stong Mayor Proposal. Surely Mayor Johnson knows that out-of-sight is out-of-mind and will remain in our sights on photo ops until the SMP goes to voters. Heck we have to crawl before we can walk, walk before we can run.... and I am very glad the homeless are getting shelter whether it is by hook or crook. One good thing came from the Strong Mayor Proposal it put fire behind our mayor and his strategist to move on some issues.

But for goodness sake for ONCE I'd like to see our mayor take a photo NEXT to his colleagues- his associates- his peers- OUR- TEAM-THE-COUNSEL and stop making it appear he's moving this city by himself to sway others of the need for a strong mayor. Every time I see Mayor Johnson in a photo I wonder why he doesn't take photos next to his colleagues-- all the city counsel members showing the public a team effort? Personally I feel he's not a team player with our team- our city manager, our city clerk, our city counsel. But a team player with his team- his lawyers, his strategists.....

IF Mayor Johnson were a humble man every time he stood on stage to mask in his own glory he'd stand with our counsel. For goodness sake they are suppose to be a TEAM. The article reads: After Johnson thanked Brown, Sister Libby Fernandez and Joan Burke, both of of Loaves and Fishes, he introduced Sacramento-native Ling, the host of National Geographic Explorer. Earlier this year, as a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show, she reported on Sacramento's "tent city," which brought other media outlets to the site."
---- Did Johnson thank the city counsel or the city manager? No

The article reads-"Your mayor, so many members of the homeless advocacy community, members of the city and county rose to the occasion and decided to tackle (homelessness) head on," Ling said. "I'm so proud of the way so many members of this community have come together (and) if Sacramento is successful (housing the homeless), it could be a model for the rest of the country."--- It wasn't Ling's responsibility and she did not specifically mention the counsel.
---- Was Johnson humble and redirect Ling's comment and give appreciation to or mention the city counsel? No

It appears some are trying to show us the need for a strong mayor with further trickery. Of course we would need a strong mayor proposal if we have an absent counsel, a weak counsel, a counsel not moving in efforts..... The homeless agenda is moving forward but we as a government are moving backwards with a Mayor who will not play with OUR TEAM--all of us. Mayor Johnson is not Kobe, at least Kobe was a ball hog but got the job done. But Johnson can't be a ball hog and get the job done (that's why he has so many assistants!!!) And even Kobe needed the rest of the team.

We are a team and we should be treated as a team. Mayor Johnson appears not capable of shifting the paradigm from a power-over us to a power-with us and that is concerning.

Rhonda Erwin
Disclosure: A Prawn who has addressed youth violence long enough to know and see all the players on the board. I am a prawn so I know the value of those not privileged in income but rich in love. I am a prawn who was bumped off the board but came back... I've addressed youth violence long enough to know a prawn needs more than prawns to put the king in chest mate and I look forward to more community members to join the red-flag campaign to knock off the Queen (developers) Knights (assistants, special interests) Rook (strategists) and put the King (Mayor Johnson) in chest mate. The king doesn't have to leave the board--- but we can stop his movements and insist the mayor has a power-with the community and not a power over us.