Walking to end violence; Mother’s Peace Walk Part II

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

On the day of the Mother’s Peace walk event; Louie was talking to the officers that would escort them throughout the whole walk. The officers mentioned that they heard the motorbike engines earlier on and soon enough, Out To Ride came to join the gathering. When the bikers reached out back to Louie, they had shared their concerns about parking their bikes around the Yonge and Bloor area because they had assumed that they would be walking also. However, Louie wanted them to bring their bikes and also lead the march.

When Out To Ride got to speak at Nathan Phillip Square, they told everyone that they are open to supporting community events and also donating to community initiatives. They also mentioned that they will also invite other motorcycle clubs to support different community causes and to reach out to them. They have a Facebook page called OTR Out To Ride where you can find out more about the organization and what they stand for.

We as a community continue to be frustrated with how there is no change, but as we continue to voice out and wait for change, we must also come up with and execute solutions. While there can be good intentions, if community members keep on using up their energy battling among themselves, with their personal opinions and perspectives, it places everyone at a standstill. This walk was special because there was unity.

Louie and other community activists also touched on how more support from political leaders and funders is needed, and most importantly being consistent in encouraging grassroots to continue the necessary work. Too often funders will support corporate organizations with the majority of the funds while leaving a small amount of funding for grassroots to fight over, which is unfair.

Grassroots organizations are often in the frontline when it comes to community work, and they are not properly compensated for their time and effort. These recent past weeks are a grim reminder of the reality of frontline workers and how they put their life on the line when serving the communities, they care about. Community leaders like Shae Stanford, Sam Boakye, and Thane Murray were taken senselessly by gun violence. Louie shared his last memory of Sam; his unforgettable smile, which is just one of the many memories people have of Sam and the other community workers that had lost their lives on the field.

Loved ones have often spoken about how community leaders from their communities have struggled to receive proper support. Often grassroots organizations and frontline workers who are passionate about this work end up using their own pocket money to continue to run programming or face not being able to continue. Think2wice and Louie had brought up how Sam had done so much, yet people in higher positions did not recognize his work.

I spoke about how grateful I was to be able to participate in this walk and how much I admire everyone who has been doing this work for years. The walk also hit home because I am still recovering from the loss of my friend who was murdered earlier this year, and also the loved ones I have lost throughout my youth. Louie shared how the mothers and youth who dedicated their time to Zero Gun Violence had also motivated him. He mentioned a youth that was volunteering, who had witnessed their friend being murdered and died in their arms. Louie said even with the entire trauma and grief people have gone through they devote their lives to making the city better. Louie ended off the conversation with a message and encouragement to everyone that have seen the good and ugly in this sector, that without the work that people are putting in, the city would have been in a worse state than it is currently.

I want to leave the readers with some social media handles that have captured the event and to connect with the organizations and individuals.

Instagram handles:

@czv416

@onebyoneovement

@onemiceducators

YouTube: Zero Gun Violence Movement