Albany violence prevention groups react to latest homicide and recent violence
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Violence prevention groups and religious based crime fighting patrols in Albany are speaking up after the latest and gruesome homicide keeps the perception of crime high. Now they are calling for more community involvement while one group is also widening their reach.
“The key to the word community is unity.” It is the driving force behind what Eric Thompson is trying to do. Thompson is the newly appointed coordinator of the Albany Violence Prevention Taskforce, and he explained, “We have three working groups, one that deals with education and awareness, another one that deals with policies and resources, and the other one is outreach.”
Albany has seen a significant increase in street violence recently. The latest being Jamier Allen, a young man who was found dead in a wooded area on Wednesday. He was shot multiple times just days before his birthday.
“We've been normalizing those mother's screams, to get past the point where we're normalizing a father who has to bury a 24-year-old son a few days before his birthday. It's become normal, and this is the problem,” said Thompson.
He said the task force is a perfect trifecta, “That gives a voice to the voiceless, that allows those who have been marginalized to have power and empowerment in the community that is transformational.”
“A young man found dead, shot in the head, and this is unacceptable,” said Bishop Avery Comithier who leads a group of religious leaders that walk the streets with law enforcement in an effort to combat crime. He said his efforts are expanding and mobilizing by saying, “Pastors on patrol with the sheriff's department, deputy sheriffs to step out of their cars as they patrol …just go out and engage with these areas, residential areas, business areas, because it's affecting now everyone.”
The bishop told NEWS10’s Reporter James De La Fuente that the community wants more action, not more numbers. “They're tired of going to meetings where you got charts, but it doesn't line up with reality,” said Comithier.
Comithier now working hand in hand with the Albany County Sheriff saying it’s god’s work, “His philosophy is the same as mine, and that is if you really care about your community and your neighborhood, stop complaining. Pick up the phone and say, ‘Yes. I saw who did it.’ rather than just ‘I didn't see anything’.”
“Gun violence is going down in the city, but in my mind, one shot fired is one shot too many. One member lost is one loss, too many,” said Thompson.
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