Larry Gossett
Councilmember, District 2
Metropolitan King County Council

March 26, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

As you know, we are once again experiencing a significant rise in homicides primarily among African American youth and young adults in Seattle and the surrounding area. Many of you joined me in the formation of the Black-on-Black Crime Prevention Coalition back in 2007 to strategize on how to address the crisis at that time.

While many of you have moved on, are working with other organizations that have been doing this work for a long period of time, or are making individual efforts to address the current situation, I am asking you to join me on Thursday, April 5, 2012, at 7:00 P.M. at People’s Institutional Baptist Church, located at 159 24th Avenue (West side of 24th Avenue between E. Fir and E. Spruce Streets) for a meeting and action agenda designed to unify our efforts and contribute to the work being done by the Silent War Campaign, Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI), Youth 180, Men of Color Support & Action Group, United Black Clergy of Washington State, social service agencies, and grassroots efforts by community members in our region. As we all know, government entities are not be able to effectively address the needs of our most disenfranchised youth and young adults. It is my strong belief that it will require us exiting our silos, checking our egos, and carrying out a comprehensive strategy to successfully address the devastating impact on our community of Black on Black crime.

As many leading psychologists say, when young people act out, what they’re really asking is: can the elders within the community contain my fear, rage, hopelessness, and anxiety? I believe we can make significant strides towards creating a more safe community.

Please join me at:

People’s Institutional Baptist Church
Thursday, April 5, 2012 @ 7:00 P.M.
159 24th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122

Please RSVP to my legislative aide Larry Evans by phone or email at (206) 296-0396, or larry.evans@kingcounty.gov.

The answer to the violence, despair, and hopelessness in our community lies within our collective unity and actions.

Sincerely,

Larry Gossett, Chair
Metropolitan King County Council
District Two

SEATTLE — Photos are all Marian White has left of her son, Justice, whose murder has never been solved.

“I honestly did think that someone was going to be caught, and we’d have a trial and it would be over with,” she said.

Justice White was just 25 years old when he went to a club on Capitol Hill on a fateful night in August 2006. Surveillance cameras captured the man talking outside the club. Police believe someone who was also at the club that night later killed him.

Full Story:

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Cold-case-murder-victims-mother–136107583.html

After less than a day of deliberations, a King County jury this afternoon found Curtis Walker guilty of first-degree murder in the April 2010 shooting death of Alajawan Brown, a 12-year-old boy who was gunned down after stepping off a Metro bus in Skyway.

via Gang member convicted of murdering Skyway boy.

Seattle, WA – “Sold Out, but I we will be back for the next showing” is what many movie Red Tails movie goers were saying as they walked away from the box office this past weekend at the Southcenter AMC theater and many across the country.  It was  that kind of commitment to see the movie that helped the Lucas Film production garner the #2 spot at the box office this past weekend, bringing in over $19 Million dollars behind the new Underworld Film, according to the Hollywood Reporter and other industry reports.

The 4:35PM showing at SouthCenter was sold out in part  by The Silent War, who with the help of DJ KUN LUV and community partners, where able to take 130 youth and families to see the movie.   Through community contributions and support from Seattle Parks and Recreation, $1500.00 was raised and 200 tickets we purchased.  Youth workers from the Seattle area brought in groups along with families who wanted to insure that their children would be able to see this historic film.

RED TAILS MOVIE OPENS THIS WEEKEND

January 17, 2012

In an ongoing effort to build community self-esteem and provide positive images for young African American and other youth, the Silent war along with its community partners will be taking 200 youth ages 13-17 to see Red Tails this upcoming weekend.

Red Tails is the story of a crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard

Along with DJ Kun Luv, the Silent war will be working with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seaspot Media Group, Presidential Transportation, Langston Hughes African American Film Festival and dozens of youth workers and community members to make this happen.  BlackPast.org will also made historical information available as a companion piece.  Through a program with AMC theaters, discounted tickets of $7.50 per person have been made available and we are asking for donations of $15.00 (2 Youth) or $30 (4 Youth).    Donations can be made online through our partner Mothers For Police Accountability or by calling DJ KUN LUV at 206.228.1176

More info:

Rev. Harriett Walden

Founder

The Silent War

harriett@thesilentwar.org

———————————————————————

PLEASE CLICK TO DONATE – YOU DO NOT NEED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO DONATE.

DONATE – $15

DONATE – $30

Thank you!

Be sure to check out the official site at http://www.redtails2012.com and encourage others to see the film.

CONTACT:
Rev. Harriett Walden
The Silent War Campaign
harriettwalden@aol.com
206.380.1710

Sergeant Sean Whitcomb
Seattle Police Media Response Unit
206-615-0923

sean.whitcomb@seattle.gov

The Seattle Police Department and The Silent War Campaign are partnering to bring attention to the open homicide cases, including that of TYRONE LOVE.

Seattle, WA June 19th, 2011:  SPD and the Silent War Campaign will hold a press conference on the corner of 26th and Cherry in Seattle, WA on Monday, June 20th at 10:00 AM to outline the campaign.  SPD Detectives will be asking directly for community support and responding to inquiries.  This effort will include social media and street promotions asking for help in solving open homicide cases.   To help re-engage the community, SPD has allocated funding to design and produce “CLUB FLYERS” with the reminder that cases such as the MURDER OF TYRONE LOVE and others are OPEN cases.  The Silent War will work with local agencies and promoters to distribute the flyers and posters across the community and social media.

WHEN: Monday, June 20, 2011
WHERE: 26th & Cherry, Seattle, WA
TIME: 10 AM

AP Pro Football Writer

NEW YORK —

Head down, eyes focused on the ground, Plaxico Burress swayed back and forth like a receiver in the huddle waiting for the next play.

He wasn’t on a football field, hasn’t been on one for more than two years. Burress was listening to an introduction at the National Urban League before he spoke his piece. When the time came, Burress couldn’t have been more positive about rehabilitating his image.

“I’m a champion on the field, and my goal is to be a champion in life and off the field,” he said.

Burress, released from prison last week after spending nearly two years in jail on a weapon possession charge, will work with the National Urban League and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The 33-year-old former New York Giant and Pittsburgh Steeler said Monday he will be mentored by Magic Johnson and Tony Dungy. He’ll volunteer at Urban League youth programs and recruit other pro athletes to the program, and he’ll speak out for gun control.

“I’m eager and excited about the next step, not knowing where it will be,” he said. “I’m dedicated to change and just being a better person.”

The next step on the field is anyone’s guess, thanks to the lockout. Burress and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, can’t speak to any teams about the free agent receiver.

The next moves away from football will be making appearances through the Urban League to speak with youngsters about where Burress went wrong and how they can avoid similar failures. Burress has pledged to devote 30 hours to help fight childhood obesity, promote mental and physical health and fitness, all in keeping with terms of probation.

Burress also will lecture on the dangers of owning or carrying a firearm. The Brady Center is the nation’s largest public interest organization dedicated to ending gun violence in this country. The center pressed for him to go to prison but ended up supporting his ultimately unsuccessful efforts to get work release last year.

“I made a bad decision and it all can be taken away from you so quick,” Burress said at the Urban League headquarters on Wall Street. “You have to be cognizant of every decision you make and what impact it can have.”

Dungy has helped Michael Vick after the quarterback served 16 months in a federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring. He visited with Burress when the player was incarcerated, and Dungy readily agreed to serve as a mentor for Burress when asked.

Dungy believes Burress gained perspective doing hard time the past two years.

“I don’t think playing football is the most important thing for him, although he wants to play,” the Super Bowl-winning coach with the Indianapolis Colts said. “I think family and contributing to (society) and making a difference in a positive way is very important to Plaxico.”

Burress caught the winning touchdown in the 2008 Super Bowl. Nine months later, his unlicensed handgun accidentally went off in a Manhattan nightclub, striking his thigh.

He said he would tell other players: “If you’re going to carry a weapon, make sure you’ve done everything properly, that you’re obeying all the laws or the rules of that state, and you know fully how to operate the weapon if you choose to carry one.”

Owning a firearm has become the norm in the NFL. Dungy, who retired after the 2008 season, recalled that at the first meeting of every training camp, he would ask how many players owned weapons. As many as 90 percent would raise their hands.

“That’s the society we live in,” he said. “They feel they have to get a gun to protect themselves or because everyone else is doing it. That doesn’t need to be the situation.”

—

AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan and AP Writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this story.

KIRO Radio reports it’s part of the city’s nightlife initiative. Mayor Mike McGinn said Monday the goal is to maintain safety and support restaurants and entertainment venues,(backslash).

The special late night patrols will continue through September.