By Attiyya Atkins
Gun violence is killing Black communities.
And when the solution isn’t easy, Black people must pray. That was the message at a community candlelight vigil held for some of Pompano Beach’s gun violence victims on July 7 at Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
“You don’t know the feeling until you know,” said Pastor Branden Jones of Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Jones lost an older sibling to gun violence. July 7 was also International Peace and Love Day. “This has to be the time that our community comes together,” Jones said.
There were prayers for love, prayers for community, prayers for the family, and more.
“We are only as strong as our weakest link,” Jones said. “Nothing is going to change until we change first… change how we feel, how we act, how we treat one and other.”
The church’s altar showed pictures of some of Pompano’s fallen soldiers: Kameron Brown, Jazzmine Brayboy, Anaysha H. Donjoie, Andrew Ford, Keltron Goodwin Jr., Leonard B. Hankins Jr., Jahmad Clarence Jacsaint, Dayvon Keith Johnson, Delana James Miller, and Brian Wallace. All were killed by guns.
“We ask you Father God that every family member that has been impacted by senseless gun violence fill their hearts with love, with peace, with compassion. Oh Lord, we ask you to put a hedge of protection over our lives and our community,” said Pastor Miguel Cruz of Un Nuevo Empezar Ministries and member of Pastors, Police, and People (PPP) at the ceremony.
Pastor Anthony Campbell told a story of seeing one of his former students after school at Blanche Ely. Keltron Goodwin Jr. had graduated years before but stopped to talk to Campbell on campus.
“Little did I know that was my last time seeing him,” Campbell said.
Nationwide, Black people understand that pain of never seeing a loved one again. According to data from the Pew Research Center, 82 percent of Black Americans are worried about gun violence. Blacks are also 12 times more likely to die by gun violence than white people.
“I can’t understand what you all feel,” Campbell told the families in the audience. “I want ya’ll to know the community is here with you and you are not here by yourself. We are doing what the community should do in times like this…You cannot have community without unity.”
Later in the evening, attendees lit their candles before singing “I Need You to Survive” in unison. Family members of the victims were given peace lilies with their late family members’ name and picture and given an opportunity to speak. “It’s unfair this happened to us,” said Kim Duncan, mother of Kameron Brown. “Now our babies are gone, and no one can help us.”
Event sponsors, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, City of Pompano Beach, Local Love, Moms Demand Action, Coastal Waste & Recycling, and the Circle of Brotherhood, ensure that Duncan and other affected families are not suffering alone.
If you have any information regarding these murders, please reach out to Villij News at villijnews@gmail.com.
Jazzmine Brayboy, 22, killed Feb. 16, 2022. She was shot and found partially submerged in a car in a canal behind Mitchell Moore Park.
Anaysha H. Donjoie, 20, killed Aug. 14, 2022. She drove herself to Broward Health North and crashed into a tree. A suspect has been charged.
Andrew Ford, 32, killed May 12, 2023. He was killed outside his home. Two suspects have been arrested.
Keltron Goodwinn Jr., 26, killed March 3, 2019.
Leonard B. Hankins Jr., 24, killed June 22, 2016. He left a bar named “Cheers” near W. Cypress Creek Road
Jahmad Clarence Jacsaint, 18, killed Dec. 11, 2021.
Dayvon Keith Johnson, 35, killed Feb. 2023 in a drive-by shooting in Collier City.
Delana James Miller, 30, killed Feb. 26 2023 in a drive-by shooting in Collier City.
Brian Wallace,18, killed Feb. 14, 2019 during an armed robbery at Apollo Park.
