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City residents rally against violence

Eagle-Tribune - 6/6/2018

June 06--HAVERHILL -- In the wake of two Haverhill residents being shot dead in this city during the last month, an estimated 100 people rallied at GAR Park Tuesday evening and demanded an end to the killing.

Lynda Brown, one of the organizers of the rally, asked the audience to observe a moment of silence for the victims of gun violence. Jeffrey Larkin, 40, was shot in the chest at Emerson Street and Grand Avenue the night of May 6. He died shortly after he arrived at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.

Nike Colon, 20, was shot in the head at Washington and Shepherd streets in the afternoon of May 17. He was the victim of a drive-by shooting.

Four Haverhill residents spoke powerfully about the need to end the violence and hatred that caused the two recent murders plus several shootings in the neighborhoods. They also offered ideas on how the community can change for the better.

Brian Mohika, born and raised in Lawrence and now living in Bradford, urged people to seek none other than God's help in turning the tide.

"I can assure you God is with you," said Mohika, a registered nurse who is studying to become a pastor.

"Love always conquers," he said. He called for "leaders who will respond in love." Mohika noted that a generation ago, youths had street fights when one had a grievance with another person. Today, more and more young people are fighting with guns, he pointed out.

"Violence brings more violence," he said. "Love always conquers."

Mohika called upon people of all ages to learn how to walk away from a fight.

"Being able to walk away is a lost art," he said. "The best response is to love and to walk away."

Eric Cruz, who lost his brother to addiction last November, said, "I'm here for my friend Nike. I'm tired of losing loved ones."

Cruz said he was once caught up in the violence of the streets.

"I thought the street life was it," he said. Cruz said he has renounced that life and is eager to help others make a new beginning.

"We have to start with us," Mirca Mejias said in giving a fiery message. Mejias, a member of the Mount Washington Alliance, said she wants to get more young people involved in basketball, soccer and other sports.

"I don't want to see anybody else dead," she said. Mejias is organizing at least two events aimed at making Haverhill a better place to live. A forum at the Haverhill Public Library on July 13, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will offer people the opportunity to talk about how domestic violence and drug addiction have affected them.

The following day, she and her husband, Fabian Mejias, plan to host an art contest at the Lawrence Heritage State Park in that city.

"I hated this city!" Dennis Everett said, speaking of his youth. Everett is the founder of POSE Inc., which stands for Power of Self-Education. This group helps young people break out of the gang cycle.

He was also caught up in that cycle, he said.

"I was looking for a solution ... but there was no place where I could get help," he said of his younger years. Everett served time in prison but he came out a changed man. Like Mohika, he expresses his faith that with God's help, Haverhill can change.

"We don't have a gang problem, we have a community problem," he said, adding he is "pushing for people to come together."

This man who once hated his city told those who attended the rally that he "experienced love and fell in love with Haverhill." This man who was arrested and sent to prison offered support for the Haverhill Police Department, whose top two officers, Chief Alan DeNaro and Deputy Chief Anthony Haugh, attended the rally.

He praised the police for saying, "We cannot arrest our way out of the (opioid) problem."

"The Haverhill Police Department has been at the table," he said. "I will not raise my children to look upon the police as the bogeyman."

Haugh called the grass-roots rally "moving and inspiring" and said it offered a "vision of peace."

The city recently received a state grant of nearly $700,000 to counteract street gangs. The money is being used to bring the UTEC program to Haverhill.

UTEC, based in Lowell, uses street workers to reach out to young people who are at risk of joining a gang, according to Gregg Croteau, executive director of the enterprise. UTEC actually can provide youths with jobs, including food services and woodworking, Croteau said.

Eighty-five percent of the inmates UTEC works with "don't go back" after their release, he said.

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