It’s been a violent week. On Monday afternoon 2 school children
were shot while walking home from school, a 14 year old high school student
was clubbed to death on Monday night, and last night there was the murder we
told you about earlier of Norman Gillett. That’s two murders and one outrageous
broad daylight murder attempt. And that outrage is what has brought a coalition
of musicians and activists to the table. They call themselves “Artists
Reacting to Crime” and they’ve planned a peace rally on Saturday.
We were at the planning session this afternoon at Youth for the Future.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These artists say their response to crime will be a display of talent.
Joseph Stamp-Romero, Artists Reacting to Crime
“I think it is about time that artists come out and do what we’ve
always been designed to do which is to express how we feel to society and try
to get some changes made.”
And donating their time and talent will be big name artists like Berne and
the Heights a Vibe fraternity.
Joseph Stamp-Romero,
“Several artists will be coming out including Supa G, Chico Ramos,
Berne, Adele Ramos, Orson Picart, New Generation Dance Company. So we hope to
have an entourage of artists giving their time.”
Fada Lee, Performing at Peace Rally
“I will bring my Heights a Vibe entourage. The way how the streets
di run right now it just get ridiculous. We understand man have their beef and
everything but it has gotten ridiculous. It is like you are spoiling your whole
society, you are spoiling your whole culture because dah lone black people di
kill one another. Nuh fu talk from a racist or prejudice point of view but if
you notice it is only black youths dropping in the streets and directly nothing
will be there for we. I don’t know if those youths are really watching
what’s happening. The Chiney and Turks and all those man are build while
we di bruk down.”
Adele Ramos, Performing at Peace Rally
“It is very real and it is very very important for us Belizean people.
We know that a lot of people like music, a lot of people listen to music and
we have a lot of Belizean artists who in their lyrics have been saying positive
messages, have been making appeals, for so long and it is time for them to start
getting heard so that the message can reach home to each and every Belizean.
If you think the violence does not affect you, that it might not come to
your door but that’s not true. It is affecting each and every one of us
right now so I want to make an appeal to every person who cares about what’s
happening in Belize and who can make it to the peace rally on Saturday to come
out.”
Berne, Performing at Peace Rally
“A lot of what’s happening right now is pretty much a cry, a
plea. The guys are crying out and this is how they know how to act out for what
they are crying out and we are going to channel them in the right direction.”
Joseph Stamp-Romero,
“I know they see the need for it and they see that if we don’t
step up as a society, as artists who are citizens of this country then what
is going to happen? We are going to wait around to see who is going to do it?
I think it is time that somebody does it.”
Joseph Carr, Youth for the Future
“We like the fact that artists have found the time to come together
to decide to send their message through their vehicle of music, of dance, of
the arts and so on to let the country know that enough is enough and from top
to bottom we need to become more involved collectively and individually.”
The rally starts 4 pm and ends at 10 with a candlelight vigil. It will
be at the third world football field on Vernon Street. Artists interested in
participating can contact Youth for the Future.
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