ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Tuesday evening, Aug. 13, dozens of residents and visitors, including children, came from all over New Jersey to Soldier’s Monument on Palisade Avenue in Englewood. They were there to participate in a vigil in response to the rampage of gun violence that has seized our nation, in particular this past month. They carried signs with slogans such as “I’m too young to die,” “Books not Bullets,” “Nobody needs an AR-15.”
In El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 3, a gunman, seeking to kill Hispanics, fatally shot 22 people and wounded 26 others with an AK-47-style assault rifle at a Walmart. Thirteen hours later, in Dayton Ohio, a lone gunman using an AR-15-style pistol with a 100-round magazine killed 10 people and wounded 27 in 32 seconds in a downtown nightclub and restaurant district.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the shooting in Dayton, Ohio was the 251st mass shooting this year. Over 900 people have been killed by guns and nearly 18,000 injured.
As such, there is genuine cause for alarm and anger in this country, where military grade weapons are routinely being used to slaughter innocent people in schools, shopping malls, movie theaters, concerts and houses of worship.
In response to these massacres, people throughout the U.S. are mourning and mobilizing to demand stricter gun laws.
On Aug. 13, Englewood’s Soldier’s Monument was the scene of one such call to action. Community leaders led “A Night of Unity and Prayer,” spearheaded by North Jersey Black Caucus for Civil Rights (NJBCCR) President, Jerry Chambers, and NJBCCR member Scott Jenkins.
Chambers has denounced these tragic acts of terrorism and has called upon federal, state and local leaders to act immediately on gun control legislation.
“We are here to address the gun violence and mass murders that affects all of our communities,” said Chambers. “Along with Rev. [Herbert Daughtry of Global Ministries] and Mayor [Michael] Wildes and other leaders, we need to take our energy and fight!”
In addition to Chambers, other prominent speakers included Wildes, Daughtry, Pastor Preston Thompson of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rabbi Chaim Poupko of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, Rabbi Akiva Block from Congregation Kehilat Kesher in Tenafly, and Sr. Pastor Peter Ahn and Pastor Sanetta Ponton of the Metro Community Church.
In the crowd were former state Assemblyman Arnold Brown, Englewood council members Cheryl Rosenberg, Charles Cobb and Council President Katharine Glynn, Janis E. Dismus School Principal Lamarr Thomas and Joseph Hoyle Sr. from the Jabari Society.
Beginning at 6 p.m., with a welcome by Jenkins and an invocation by Rev. Thompson, a host of dramatic prayers and speeches filled the night.
Rabbi Poupko remarked, “I am here tonight to express the Jewish community’s solidarity and to say that we need to have responsible leadership that can address the challenges that are going on right now. The rabbis teach us that diversity is a wonderful thing, but with diversity comes conflict, and that is OK. The goal is to manage our differences, to recognize, respect and honor the people who are not like us, to foster communities and an environment where words will replace weapons and people see the beauty in diversity.”
Keynote speaker, the venerated 88-year-old Rev. Daughtry of the NJBCCR, spoke about his experiences in war torn Nazi Germany and Belfast and warned against decent people remaining silent when evil and mass murders take place. But, he ended on an optimistic note, declaring that like Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, “I am addicted to hope. That has been the buoyancy of African Americans for 400 years.”
Englewood resident Chris Gagliardi decried the bloodshed in America, as he called out the country’s leaders and roused the crowd to continuously roar “Enough!” and “Change must come now!”
Pastor Ponton exclaimed, ‘We’ve had enough thoughts and prayers! I am tired of prayers and I am angry! We don’t react strongly enough to the horrors that are happening to our Latino, African American and Jewish brothers and sisters, whether they have a green card or not. We sit in our citizenship thinking, ‘It’s happening to them.’ So, we need to transform people’s hearts and minds to understand that we are all God’s creatures and that ‘they’ is also ‘us.’ Just because the gun isn’t pointed at us doesn’t mean that it won’t be!”
She concluded, “We need to contact all of our friends and family members in red states outside of New Jersey who think gun control is nonsense and call them out.”
One of the most resounding and informative presentations of the evening was that of Mayor Wildes, one of the first speakers.
“I’m angry that, 95 years after this monument was first erected, we have yet to secure lasting peace,” Wildes said, standing beneath the iconic Soldiers Monument statue. “The enemy is different this time, in our backyards and on our streets instead of overseas. But let’s not kid ourselves: this is nothing less than a war we’re fighting against gun violence in America. And it will take the same guts, courage, and character on display a century ago to meet the present challenge.
“In Englewood, we’re saying enough is enough. And we’re doing everything we can to make sure no one in our city has to say an early goodbye to their loved ones again,” Wildes said. “As mayor, I’m lucky to be in constant contact with the chief and deputy chief of our police department. And over the past year especially, I’ve felt tremendous gratitude for our officers, who are taking one proactive measure after another to ensure everyone stays safe,” Wildes continued. “They have stepped up their patrols in affected areas, especially near houses of worship. They are taking advantage of both the patrol and detective divisions, following up on leads and pursuing accountability and justice. They’re collaborating with outside agencies, and launching both private and public security initiatives. And they are stepping up efforts to reach out to and interact with the community, particularly the youth, in a continued commitment to improve community-police relations.
“These are just a few ways we’re proactively addressing the scourge of gun violence in our city. And fortunately, on the state level, New Jersey is leading the way too,” Wildes said. “In the past year alone, our state has passed at least 10 pieces of legislation to combat gun violence. We have the second strongest gun laws in the country, and one of the lowest gun death rates. From background checks to concealed carry permits, New Jersey is demonstrating what responsible gun ownership looks like—and proving that it really does save lives.”
The work is far from over
“If we want to end this national epidemic once and for all, we must urge Congress and other states to pass similar legislation and catch up. Because gun violence is a country-wide problem—and it therefore demands country-wide solutions,” Wildes said. “It won’t be easy. But if we come together and demand action on all fronts, the end of gun violence is within reach. The war we’re currently fighting will be won. And until that day comes, I’ll be marching and praying alongside each and every one of you, each and every step of the way.”
To conclude the vigil, Rev. Dawnique Daughtry led “An interactive litany for the slain in El Paso and Dayton,” after which many people remained to discuss their thoughts and renew their commitment to keep opposing gun violence.
