"Peace, be still!!" called and echoed through the streets and neighborhood of Vilia Victoria tonight, as I marched along with bout 50 other residents, and friends and family of Alex, a youth shot and killed here on september 3rd. "It is time to bring light into the darkness!" the prayers of a pastor from Lion of Judah church proclaimed. We took the hand of those next to us and said, "i choose light!" and then we walked, carrying candles high.
"Blanko was the nickname of Alex Sierra, 18, a Villa Victoria resident who was shot to death on Saturday, Sept. 3, in front of barber shop El Barbaritos at 652 Tremont St. Police arrested the alleged shooter, Ricardo Arias, 17, on Tuesday, Sept. 6. According to Assistant District Attorney Amy Galatis, Arias and a 16-year-old, who has also been arrested, were seen in the area of the barbershop on Sept. 3, asking passersby if they lived in the Villa Victoria. Sierra was the only one to answer yes, and Arias allegedly fired three shots into him. Galatis said that investigators believe that the incident stemmed from a longstanding rivalry between Mission Hill and Villa Victoria-affiliated gangs."
http://www.mysouthend.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=124625
why?! Why did this happen?! Enough! "peace, be still"
Alex's sister sobbed as we watched a slideshow some of the youth put together. Two young people got up and sang songs for him.
There was food, and it was beautiful to see the community come together - share life and food together - mourning, yet there was laughter and a sense of carrying on. sticking together. living. little babies, kids, teens, through to the elderly. I was sitting next to two older women from the villia, i think one was his grandmother. They both had a deep saddness - they would often shake their heads and sigh. oh this life, that was so young, was just snatched away!
One of the girls who helped organize the march, passionately told the group "I don't want to be gathering like this, for this reason again, EVER! Its time to make a change!"
Im glad to be in this neighborhood, and i want to connect even more with these kids, and this community. People are seeking for answers, they are scared - I hope i, and others at SENCE and our house here, can love them with Christ's love, and be community together.
"Blanko was the nickname of Alex Sierra, 18, a Villa Victoria resident who was shot to death on Saturday, Sept. 3, in front of barber shop El Barbaritos at 652 Tremont St. Police arrested the alleged shooter, Ricardo Arias, 17, on Tuesday, Sept. 6. According to Assistant District Attorney Amy Galatis, Arias and a 16-year-old, who has also been arrested, were seen in the area of the barbershop on Sept. 3, asking passersby if they lived in the Villa Victoria. Sierra was the only one to answer yes, and Arias allegedly fired three shots into him. Galatis said that investigators believe that the incident stemmed from a longstanding rivalry between Mission Hill and Villa Victoria-affiliated gangs."
http://www.mysouthend.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=124625
why?! Why did this happen?! Enough! "peace, be still"
Alex's sister sobbed as we watched a slideshow some of the youth put together. Two young people got up and sang songs for him.
There was food, and it was beautiful to see the community come together - share life and food together - mourning, yet there was laughter and a sense of carrying on. sticking together. living. little babies, kids, teens, through to the elderly. I was sitting next to two older women from the villia, i think one was his grandmother. They both had a deep saddness - they would often shake their heads and sigh. oh this life, that was so young, was just snatched away!
One of the girls who helped organize the march, passionately told the group "I don't want to be gathering like this, for this reason again, EVER! Its time to make a change!"
Im glad to be in this neighborhood, and i want to connect even more with these kids, and this community. People are seeking for answers, they are scared - I hope i, and others at SENCE and our house here, can love them with Christ's love, and be community together.
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