Category Archives: Efforts To Stem Youth Violence
Justice for Ishmael
Another family needs your help, please get the word out by copying and sharing this post. It has been six agonizing months since the Escalante family lost their beloved Ishmael who has been described by many as loyal, honest, generous, special and loved.
The family has organized an event at the intersection of ‘G’ Street and Olive Avenue in Merced, CA on June 20, 2015, from 4:00pm – 8:00pm. Supporters of the #JusticeForIshmael initiative will be rallying for justice and passing out flyers, a bake sale has also been organized to help fund #JusticeForIshmael. A march to raise awareness of this unsolved murder will begin at 6:45pm and all concerned citizens are invited to attend.
The city of Merced has seen a recent spike in the number of homicides this year with most of the victims being young people in their teens and early twenties.
However, this city with a population of over 81,000 people, employs a police department with less than 30 sworn officers. It is nearly impossible for them to keep up with the needs of such a growing city. The public’s help is needed more than ever; we must be the eyes and ears of our communities, and we must work together with local law enforcement to push forward the wheels of justice.
For more information on how you can help, please contact site administrator, Michelle Thompson at ContactUs or (559) 681-1185.
#JusticeForIshmael
The S.E.A.R.C.H.
Together Against Violence will be taking part in The S.E.A.R.C.H. (Successfully Engaging Adolescents through Resources Community Hunt) on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Kerckhoff Park, in Kerman, California. The S.E.A.R.C.H. is a city-wide scavenger hunt for teens which will also feature an after party with music and raffle prizes. Anti-Violence Advocates will be on hand to answer questions, give safety tips, and provide youth mentoring services. If you are interested in assisting at our booth, please leave a message in the comments section below or click on the Contact Us button at the top of this page.
This is a free, community-oriented event brought to you by the City of Kerman Parks and Recreation Department, for more information please call 559-846-9383. If you are unable to attend but would like to help, please feel free to share this post. #CommunityOutreach
The Journey to Justice
Today marks the end of one journey and the start of another for our family. Today Manuel Ray Villarreal was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his part in the stabbing death of Marcus Lynn Snowden. Although this sentence provides some relief we are still in a period of healing and will be for quite some time. We hope we have done the memory of Marcus justice, we hope we have provided everyone with some insight of how violence effects everyone because when lives are taken in such a violent matter, everyone suffers and everyone is a victim.
We will continue on the mission we have set forth and will now offer peer support to families who are dealing with the tragedy of losing loved ones to violence. If anyone would like to join us please feel free to message our page or fill out the contact form on our website; www.togetheragainstviolence.com
We also want to thank the all the first responders for the work they do every day, the Fresno County Sherriff’s Office, the Fresno County Office of the District Attorney, Kerman Police Department, Victim Witness Services, Central Valley Crime Stoppers and our family and community for all their love and support.
We also wanted to share a poem written by Marcus’ sister, Kendra Snowden. Her poem sums up a lot with only a few words and we thank her for allowing us to share it with you.
Two Young to Fall
Two people gone
One alive one dead
But not one got ahead
One lifeless
One soulless
Both young and intellectually unfed
The fight that ended both lives so they said
War against another all in vain
Now there are only chains
Chains on the soulless divided
Chains on the lifeless never to be reunited
Diversity a beauty and a beast
The separation between you and me
Like the serpent between God, Adam and Eve
Who are we?
Both the hearts stained blue
So sad alone and looking for the truth
Do not fear for our time should soon be here
Rise and fall
We do it all
One in the same so who’s to blame?
~ Kendra Snowden
Let Us Be Reminded
It has been over 51 years since Dr. Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered the speech that would solidify his place in American history. I Have a Dream; these words still ring true today, as the conflict for basic human equalities continues worldwide. These human equalities are the birthright of every one of us and need to be preserved, sometimes the process is controversial, sometimes it is inconvenient and offensive, but above all it is necessary. No matter what side of the debate you may be on, I think Dr. King would agree, that #AllLivesMatter whether they be black, white, or blue. The need for a unified front is more important than ever.
Let us all be reminded: “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” – August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, #MLK #MLKDay2015
#life #love #loss
#life #love #loss
Life
Despite the two years of memories that have filled our lives since you were taken from us, there is not one moment that cannot be eclipsed by the darkness we felt that night. The night that is just still, too much to bear. We have tried our best and hope that we have done your memory justice. Too many victims have had their lives negated by the people who took their lives. Victims are subjected to an indignity in life and also in death as their assailants often point fingers at the deceased, disparaging them in their foolish attempts to thwart the legal system. We hope and most sincerely pray that this does not happen to you.
No matter how much things change, how many good people we meet and we have met many because of you, no matter how much good news we hear. Life is just not the same, the zest and zeal are gone, will it ever come back? We really don’t know, no matter how much fun or laughter there is. We look around at each other and you are not there, life doesn’t get any easier, we just learn to manage better, we put on the happy face more often. We fool more people, more often.
Love
Love is the burden we will always bear, no matter how far away from the tragedy we are. We cry because we care, we try not to waste the precious time we have, we fill it to the brim…just like you did. You lived for the excitement, stress and heartache and were more than happy to pick yourself up and do it again. Then one day you were able to find that happiness and we could see the love and sincerity all over your face but it was short-lived, within a few weeks, you were gone. Love is the burden we carry like no other and we will always do so.
Loss
How do we manage the loss of you, we listen to music that reminds us of you. We like the things you liked, we tell the jokes you told, we dance the way you danced. We hold each other tight, we tell each other “I love you” more often, we see each other more, and we pray for you. We’ve become closer to God. All these things we have to do to make up for the loss of your presence, we try to capture the essence of you, manifested through each of us. It will always be there, they may have taken you from us, but not one person can take away the memories and love we have for you. These things are not lost and one day when our time comes, we will meet again. It will be like you never left, it will be like that night never happened.
Together Against Violence 