This past Sunday, instead of the traditional start to summer celebrations, Holy Vow International Ministries dedicated its Memorial Day weekend event to a more serious topic: gun violence in Fort Pierce.
- This past Sunday, instead of the traditional start to summer celebrations, Holy Vow International Ministries dedicated its Memorial Day weekend event to a more serious topic: gun violence in Fort Pierce.
- “We need boots on the ground,” Sanders declared. “All of you have ideas and strategies. We need them. We need them. This is not a show.”
- Sandy Nedd proposed increasing mental health services as a possible solution, expressing her disappointment with the violence in her hometown.
- At the meeting, Aisha Nash suggested several solutions to gun violence, such as:
The city’s Police Department reports that five people, three of them teenagers, were shot in the early hours of Saturday. Gun violence in the city is escalating daily. While the injuries were not fatal, this incident marks the second consecutive weekend with a series of shootings in the north side community of Fort Pierce.
Moved by the wave of violence, Pastor Dr. Anthony Sanders organized an event at his church on Sunday following the previous weekend’s shootings that left three people dead. He expressed his weariness and frustration with the gun violence situation, a recurring problem in the city.
“We need boots on the ground,” Sanders declared. “All of you have ideas and strategies. We need them. We need them. This is not a show.”
The pastor has experienced gun violence firsthand, with affected family members, and even used to write raps about the situation in Fort Pierce. Attendees at the event shared their concern about the amount of violence on the north side of the city.
“I know there are a lot of people who are afraid of the north side and don’t want to go there,” commented one attendee. “But that’s where our problem lies.”
“We need help,” said another. “This is ridiculous. I don’t want any mother to go through what I went through.”
Sandy Nedd proposed increasing mental health services as a possible solution, expressing her disappointment with the violence in her hometown.
“When will this end?” Nedd asked. “Is this why I came home?”
The event drew about 30 people, including Mayor Linda Hudson, City Manager Nicholas Mimms, City Commissioner Curtis Johnson, Jr., and other elected officials. During the city council’s regular meeting on Monday, Hudson faced pressure to find solutions.
“We’re also searching, but every city in the United States has this kind of problem,” Hudson said. “So we’re open to it, and we’re working on many of the things that need to happen.”
“Does it seem like you don’t know what the solution is?” a resident questioned.
“Well, do you know what the solution is?” Hudson responded.
Hudson and the city manager did not speak at Sunday’s meeting, but Johnson addressed the various challenges the city faces, including a smaller budget than the county’s.
At the meeting, Aisha Nash suggested several solutions to gun violence, such as:
- Starting mentorship programs at a younger age.
- Using schools and community programs to ensure proper teaching of behavioral intervention and conflict resolution.
- Changes in the punishments applied to minors.
Another attendee proposed giving children more options to “get off the streets.”
Earlier this week, the mayor connected with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to discuss evidence-based ways to reduce gun violence in Fort Pierce through a Zoom conversation last week. Other nonprofit organizations present at the meeting also offered their services and expertise.
The Fort Pierce community is at a critical moment to address gun violence. The search for solutions requires a joint effort from leaders, residents, and organizations working together to create a safer future for all.
Image: Wflx
