DALLAS – Just feet from the scene of a murder that occurred earlier this week at the Estelle Village Apartments in Dallas, frustrated neighbors gathered Saturday night.
“Basically, it’s about reaching out to this community with love, letting them know that despite tragic events like this, people still need love. “Kids here still want to feel safe and cared for,” said Black Dallas founder Davante Peters.
Peters met with members of Community Movement Builders to deliver resources such as children’s juice and snacks, baby clothes and diapers.
Afterwards, they held a candlelight vigil for Quentin Brown, 36.
Brown died Tuesday after he was shot in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Shortly after, Dallas police arrested Alonzo Green, 22, and charged him with murder.
“It’s devastating. “It’s just a normal person like me who was in a human situation where we didn’t know how to resolve the conflict without violence,” Peters said.
Several neighbors witnessed the shooting. Even more witnessed the chaos that followed.
Kiara Bell said she has lived in the complex for four years and gunshots are an almost daily occurrence.
“I was saying I was tired of jumping out of my bed while I was sleeping because of the gunshots. I’m sleeping. “I’m in a deep sleep and I have to jump out of bed,” he said.
Saturday’s rally is one of a growing number of events that have been held in Dallas in recent weeks aimed at stopping the violence.
In many cases, encouraging attendance has been half the battle.
Still, organizers insist on urging those listening that it takes everyone, especially members of affected communities, to create change.
“Despite our circumstances, we all play a role in what our environment looks like and what our future looks like,” Peters said.
