Letter from the Editor

To my readers,

I thank you for your patience as I have been going through one of the most difficult times in my life. My brother Rashad aka “PeeWee” was gunned down in August. My family and I still haven’t healed, and honestly never will. He was plotted against and prayed upon by people he trusted at the age of 33. The betrayal breaks my heart, and the fact that we couldn’t save him tears me up each and every day.

Sad to say, that many of you reading this may have felt this same pain, as 68% of homicide victims are Black Americans, according to Everytown Research & Policy. I am angry, depressed, sick, and find it hard to function on a day-to-day basis. I scream, I cry, I laugh, I replay moments over and over in my head.

Some of you reading this have lost a loved one to gun violence, and some of you have used gun violence to take lives. I pray for comfort and healing for all of you. For those of you who have played God, know that no one reigns more supreme than our Father in heaven and you will have to answer to his divine correction. For those of you hurting like my family, I pray that you find justice. I pray you let the tears flow as the come, and that you let no one hold you back as you live each day to the fullest.

Gun violence is a terrible circle, the deceased aren’t the only victims. The children, parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and loved ones are victims as well. Trust me, dealing with life without my brother, while receiving little to no information from detectives, deputies, and state attorney is unbearable.

Still, I want to say thank you to the community – to the Villij. Thank you to everyone who has asked when the next issue will be out, thanks to those who have called, texted, and shared your support for Villij. It hasn’t been easy to focus, but your support has been a wind beneath my wings. While I’m still breathing, I want you all to know that I appreciate you. You never know when the last moment will be.

Enjoy every moment.

God Bless,

Attiyya Atkins
Villij News
954-543-1423
Villijnews@gmail.com