Group Holds March Against Urban Violence, Supports Families

No More Murder Weekend in Providence set to take place July 9-10.

A group based in Providence's south side is hosting its third annual "No More Murder Weekend," a two-day series of events this Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, designed to address issues of street violence and to help rebuild healthy families and relationships within urban communities.

"This weekend is really a citywide family reunion," said Dewayne Boo Hackney, founder of It's On Us (I.O.U.), which organized the event. "Part of our mission is to reestablish the mindset of being a family in the black community. We've become disconnected as a people. Disconnection leads to disrespect, which ultimately leads to violence in our streets."

The weekend's events reflect those goals, starting with supporting and embracing healthy families and relationships:

Saturday, July 9, is "Family Day" at the Davey Lopes Center (27 Dudley Street) from 12pm to 6pm. There will be food, fun, music, entertainment, gathering of friends and family, informational seminars and giveaways.

Sunday, July 10, the "No More Murder March" begins at 11am on the corner of Waldo and Cranston Streets. The march ends at Dexter Training Grounds Park (Parade and Hudson Streets) at noon where Mayor Angel Taveras is scheduled to attend. Event ends at 6pm.

Other speakers will include parents who lost children to violence, as well as men and women who have transformed their lives in positive ways after coming out of the penal system. Hackney described the power of having both "families of victims and victimizers" participate in the day's events and march together. "It's an example of the healing and forgiveness that can happen when we reunite and have love for ourselves and each other."

About the "No More Murder Weekend"
Founder Dewayne Boo Hackney became increasingly weary of the loss of mostly black and Latino young lives to violence in his community. He came together with residents Gerard Catala and the group Curse Breakers three years ago to organize the first "No More Murder March," and has seen the event steadily grow each year. The march both memorializes those whose lives have been lost as well as raises awareness of what the community can do to bring peace to its streets.

The group's efforts are rooted in a proclaimed core belief that the community must take responsibility for its own problems and for finding solutions to its own problems. Osiris Harrell, an activist who joined forces with Hackney to advocate for issues in the black community, explained, "It's time that we as a people start to do things differently."

"We want our people to understand that it's on us," said Hackney as he described this weekend's events and his organization's mission. "We are a major part of the problem so we must be a major part of the solution. Nothing's gonna change if we don't change our hearts and our minds."

"No More Murder March Weekend" is made possible by the generosity of the Davey Lopes Center, Councilman Davian Sanchez, Aramark, A.J. Benton, Nation of Islam, Friendship Productions, Project FUTURE 2000 and Beyond, Curse Breakers, George Lindsey & the Davey Lopes staff, Sterling Mousie Washington, and the City of Providence.

About It's On Us (IOU)
It's On Us (IOU) is a citywide organization of men from diverse racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds that strives to end division and violence in Providence communities, to inspire change in the lives of men and women toward positive citizenry, and to enrich the lives of young people through education and other programming and support.

For more information about No More Murder Weekend, contact Dewayne Boo Hackney at 401-265-3667 or 401-421-0004.