Hunger Strike may be over, but the fight against gun violence runs on
Eighteen members of the Circle of Brotherhood take a sip of juice after pouring some out to honor those who lost their lives by gun violence. Photo by Tamica Jean-Charles.
Fourteen homicides have been reported since the beginning of the year, three less than last year’s numbers, according to the Miami-Dade police department part I five-year crime report.
Many of these homicides come from some of Miami’s most underprivileged areas, and community members and government officials are finding ways to change that.
Nine men from the Circle of Brotherhood, called the Hunger 9, went on a 22-day hunger strike to put an end to gun violence in their communities. And while the strike may be over, the issue of gun violence remains a topic of immediate discussion.
Miami has seen an almost 24 percent increase in homicides from 2013 to 2017, according to the reports.
Deputy Mayor of Miami-Dade County Maurice Kemp says his office works with community partners, such as the Circle of Brotherhood and neighboring police departments, to come up with solutions to address gun violence.
His most recent effort is the John Jay program, an intervention-based initiative that brings different members of the community together to help the individuals who are involved in violent activities.
“Until we stop our young men from killing each other, we’re not going to be satisfied,” said Kemp. “What we know is that the government can’t do this alone and that it takes the community to change what’s happening here.”
The program identifies known gang members and drug dealers, and while pressuring them with potential arrest, community members work together to uplift them through social, familial and work-related activities. The program is also set to help the families of those individuals through similar efforts.
The John Jay program is sponsored by District 3 Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson, who oversees Liberty City. Other local government officials have made efforts to confront gun violence in communities like Liberty City; Congresswoman Frederica Wilson recently introduced a bill that will focus on studying and directing social problems that affect black men and boys.
While officials are creating ways to curb gun violence, citizens of those communities continue to struggle with finding solutions.
Caroline Williams, the councilwoman of Liberty City-zoned Area 8, supports the Circle of Brotherhood efforts. She thinks gun violence is a systematic problem that is deeply rooted in people's lives, making it difficult to confront properly.
“Violence happens at every level,” said Williams. “The more we meet our everyday problems and when we take the anger out of those things, it’s a puzzle piece it’s a part of the solution.”
However, actively shifting conversations must be done to start change. Williams believes local lawmakers are doing their best to address gun violence, but she says they’re dealing with the “symptoms” rather than dealing with the cause itself.
T-shirts of late loved ones killed by gun violence hang on the fence outside the Hunger Strike. Photo by Tamica Jean-Charles
Reasons for violence are multi-dimensional. Overcrowding in all aspects of the community--traffic, housing and schools--contribute to the tensions that eventually result in violent situations, according to Williams.
“A gun is just a symptom that leads up to that shooting,” said Williams. “We need to let people know that their needs can be met in nonviolent ways.”
Williams believes the change will be the driving force to put an end to gun violence. Leaving defected tactics and implementing new visions is one of the first steps communities need to do, but most importantly, she says conversations are at the helm of change.
“I believe young people today are going to definitely be those change makers because they know what’s not working for them and that the cards are stacked against them,” said Williams. “Each person that takes a piece of the puzzle and resolves it is a part of the solution. It’s going to take some time but we need to do it.”
“Buying in” to possible solutions such as creating to gun-free zones, implementing conflict-resolution in different areas of the school curriculum or resolving mental health are ideas government officials such as Williams are exploring.
The nine men started the strike to put an end to gun violence in their community of Liberty City.
On March 4, each man settled into one of the shaded cots, each with mininal belongings, on a vacant plot of land on the corner of Northwest 62nd Street and Northwest 12th Avenue. They would then consume nothing but water for the next 22 days, with occasional visits from family, friends, medics and supporters.
The Circle of Brotherhood is an organization made up of predominantly black men who mentor others through philanthropy, education, mediation, conflict resolution and more. Many of the men in the program come from underprivileged areas themselves.
Anthony Blackman, who says he’s experienced gun violence his entire life in Alabama before moving to Miami 18 years ago, wants to be apart of the solution.
He believes the only way to see change, is to take personal responsibility.
“I get a chance to give back to my community, in a way that they are traditionally normal to see,” said Blackman. “And there’s no greater love than a man lay his life for a friend. I am grateful to be a part of this experience.”
The Hunger 9 says they are boycotting the killings in their community with the hunger strike. The men are aware that the strike will not eradicate killings caused by gun violence, but hope to start the conversation.
“In our community, gun violence isn’t even something we don’t even talk about anymore. I have [yet] to see a protest against gun violence in our community. This is a new conversation we’re having,” said Blackman.