The community called Yabra has seen some of the city's worse murders. In fact just three weeks ago a security guard was murdered for his gun in broad daylight on Old Faber's Road, one of the main arteries into the heart of Yabra. And last night, for this community that has seen the worse, there was a first: ten mothers who have lost sons to street violence, under the banner of "Mothers Organized for Peace," led a candlelight vigil through the Port Loyola Division. 7NEWS was there from start to finish and we have the story of the emotional toll violence has had on this community and the hope for renewal.
Keith Swift Reporting,
It was led by the Minorettes Marching Band but this was no celebration. Under the cloak of late evening clouds, candles were bought and lit as Mothers Organized for Peace (MOP) walked for their dead sons. They were shoulder to shoulder with fathers, young men, young women, and children. Most carried pictures and emotional burdens.
Woman #1: If this doesn't stop then everybody will keep getting hurt and the hurt will never stop. So I just want the crime stop.
Woman #2: You see who I brought out, my grandchildren, because my
two nephews had a wrongful death too. The two Brannon brothers are my two nephews.
Man #1: This is my friend's uncle.
KS: You are holding his picture, why are you participating in the march?
Man #1: Because I want to stop the violence and have peace.
KS: Your story is different because your son didn't die from street violence, he was killed by the police.
Irene Wallace: I am out here to show my support in memory of my two sons and I hope justice will come about, especially for Andrew Wallace.
Mother #1: This is my son. He died from stab wounds the 27th of February.
KS: Why are you out here?
Mother #1: Because I feel it is for a worthy cause.
The celebratory beat of the marching band was eventually drowned out by the
solemn chants of those participating.
Yvonne Moore walked with a picture of her son Nadir Husman. Nadir was killed in June of 2004. Her son didn't live or die on the southside of the city but she shares the pain of these mothers.
Yvonne Moore, Mother of Murder Victim
"I may seem to be normal on the outside but no one knows the pain I am carrying, nobody knows the effect to which families lives have changed. No one knows the extent of the depression we all have to go through. I have been crying since I got this picture yesterday. I put it on today and I am crying all over again."
Gilda Brannon also had a t-shirt with her sons Phillip and Kevin Brannon. They were murdered three short months ago.
Gilda Brannon, Mother of Murder Victims
"As you could see my two sons they just killed on Mother's Day and that was a sad time for me. I was in my bed, I was awake but I was in my bed when I heard the gunshots and I couldn't even come out of my house and the persons
they arrested, I hope I will get justice."
Keith Swift,
What was your reason for coming out tonight?
Gilda Brannon,
"Well I hope it means something to everybody else, even the ones that didn't come out because I think something will happen, something has to happen anyway."
18 years ago Catherine Flowers' son was murdered. This t-shirt is one of the few remaining memories of Stephen.
Catherine Flowers, Mother of Murder Victim
"My son was murdered on the 24th of February 1988 on Neal's Penn Road. To every time you hear a gunshot, you feel it all over again. You can never rest because there is too much violence. We have to stop it."
Grace Bowen's son Eric was killed 4 years ago. Her reason for being out here? She four more children whom she doesn't want to lose.
Grace Bowen, Mother of Murder Victim
"This is my son Eric. He died 24th of February 2002. He was murdered in our house."
Keith Swift,
Why are you out here tonight?
Gilda Bowen,
"I am tired of the violence. I have four more sons and they are not problem children but then the same thing could happen to them."
But no one's plea was more heartfelt than that of this mother. Her son Reginald Young was murdered in front of Bismark nightclub in 2004. Last night she paused at the very spot Reginald was killed and made this plea.
Mother #2,
"Right here my son was murdered. All I am begging for is justice. That is all I want as his mother. I want justice. Come on people, we need back our old Belize. Come on people we need back our Belize. We need to stop. We want our old Belize again. That is all we are asking for."
The pleas were heartfelt, emotions were tense, and the spirit. Therese Felix who led the procession say this should be seen as just the beginning.
Therese Felix, M.O.P.
"I am pleased with the crowd. I thought it would have been bigger but I will work with what we have right now and from there we will work on. We will work out something after this."
Keith Swift,
What do you hope will happen next?
Therese Felix,
"This is for peace and after this I will contact you when everything starts to happen. I will keep you informed. This is just the beginning."
Police estimate that about 200 people participated.
