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Community Organization to Lead Anti-Violence March From Astoria Houses to Queensbridge Houses Saturday

A FAITH peace walk in 2012 (Courtesy of FAITH)

Sept. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin

A community-based organization is leading a peace march from the Astoria Houses to the Queensbridge Houses tomorrow to show the unity of neighbors against violence.

Fathers Alive In The Hood (FAITH) is organizing the march after a tumultuous summer that saw a surge in gun violence across the city, as well as protests against police killings of Black men and women.

“From police shootings to us killing us, we on both frontiers,” said FAITH founder and president Kenny Carter. “But I’m more focused on the value of our lives.”

Carter, who was raised in the Queensbridge Houses, said the community cannot remain silent in the face of the ongoing violence. He said residents must join together and show strength in numbers, with the message that each others’ lives are indispensable.

“I believe that when we begin to show the value of life in our communities to our youth, they might be able to value life a lot more,” Carter said. “And it’s truly priceless.”

The peace march will bring together residents of the Astoria Houses, Woodside Houses, Ravenswood Houses and Queensbridge Houses with stops at each along the way. FAITH is asking participants to wear all white clothing.

“White is the dress code,” Carter said. “We figured we going through some dark times — let’s brighten it up.”

The nonprofit was started in 2012 in response to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Darryl Adams at the South Jamaica Houses. Carter — who now lives in Jamaica with his wife and two children — said he couldn’t sit silently by.

He began FAITH and started a mentorship program for young boys and a fatherhood support group through the nonprofit. The goal is to give the people the support and guidance to help them reach their full potential.

FAITH began peace walks to show that community members against violence outnumber those with guns “in a massive way,” Carter said.
“For people who are trying to make a change, it’s important to show presence and say listen we had enough of us,” he said. “We’re marching because it’s enough of us killing us. We need to show unity, we need to show strength and we need to address some of the dark issues that our communities have.”

The march will begin at the Astoria Houses Community Center, located at 4-05 Astoria Blvd. at 12 p.m. PPE will distributed for those without it.

A second peace march will be held on Oct. 1 in South Jamaica.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

10 Comments

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Dan K

i thought that we could not have large gatherings ? Also I thought it was the police killing all the people in the neighborhood so I don’t get “us killing us” , can someone please explain.

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Sure I can explain

They are violating the health mandate by not wearing masks; like the police did at the violent “pro-police” rallies.

Police are murdering people, but SO are other people. This march is about the latter. You can be against both at the same time!

I know, it’s hard for you to understand.

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violent pro-police rallies

99.9% of murders in this country every year are not by police…the are mostly by African Americans and minorities…the only violence at rallies to support the police were leftist thugs trying to shut down peoples right to free speech…I know it’s hard for you to understand…

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The pro-police rallies were all violent, like you said

Sorry did the “leftist thugs” plow their car into a peaceful protest? Oh wait, that was the right…

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Guest

How about they report every crime and complain about the criminals and freeloaders staying at these housing projects?

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#wheresjimmy

these librals want to march but brail reform and rikers they are setting the criminals free like de blasio

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Mac

Hashtagger- Brail reform? You’re demanding the change of elevator panels now. Who is the bigger criminal Trump or DeBlasio?

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