Latest news with #youthsafety
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
'We need everybody': Detroit leaders mobilize after child, teen killed in triple shooting
Samir Josiah Grubbs, 4, didn't have time to even make it up the slide's ladder at the Skinner Playfield next to Denby High School in Detroit before he was shot to death. He beat his mom, Jasmine Grubbs, out of the car once they got to the park on June 27 — "that was his thing," she said — and raced towards the slide. They'd only been at the playground for a minute before gunfire erupted. She remembers everything in slow motion: Samir climbing, then shot in the back. Grubbs feels empty now, because to everyone else, Samir was a 4-year-old boy, but to her, "Samir Josiah Grubbs was my everything. He was my world," she said while she returned to Skinner Playfield days after her son was killed, holding a small toy car he left in her bed. In response to the bloodshed, Team Pursuit, a community violence intervention group in the area, mobilized CVI leaders from all over the city to Skinner Playfield on Monday, June 30 to demand more from the community — including themselves, parents, lawmakers and decision makers — to help the city's youth, to prevent more loss of life. "We're going to touch every single household in this community. We are hitting the block — today," Quincy Smith, executive director of Team Pursuit, told the crowd at Skinner Playfield. Samir wasn't the only victim of Friday's triple shooting. An 18-year-old boy, Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, was killed, too. His father, Joseph Shelmonson-Bey, said the teen was always helping others, so he wasn't surprised to hear from witnesses that his son pushed a friend out of the way, the fatal rounds hitting his son instead. A 17-year-old was also shot but survived. Detroit police had two people of interest in custody shortly after the shooting, but they've since been released, the department confirmed Monday. They're asking for anyone with information to come forward. "We are still asking the community for their help in providing any information, video footage and anything additional that can assist in the investigation," said Jasmin Barmore, a spokesperson for Detroit police. More: 4-year-old child, teenager killed in triple shooting at park by Denby High School More: Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison: 'We're going to have a clean and safe summer.' The violence intervention groups at Skinner Playfield had flyers with information on resources, like Team Pursuit's summer youth engagement program called "Protect the Zone," to hand out to neighbors. But before they set out, Smith recalled the moment he heard the news of Friday's tragedy. "I said, 'another 4-year-old?'" Smith said. "My heart broke because I'm tired of it. You should be tired of it ... No more staying at home and watching the news and saying 'that's a damn shame.' We need everybody." Joseph Shelmonson-Bey said he doesn't want another father to have to lose a child like he had. For him, that requires accountability. Shelmonson-Bey and Grubbs went to Skinner Playfield with violence intervention groups to share what it's like to lose a child − "I can't even explain it," the father said. "As community, we need to hold ourselves accountable ... We need to speak out," Shelmonson-Bey said. More: $200 dispute may have sparked shooting that injured 2 during Detroit fireworks, police say Before the group assembled at Skinner Playfield went door to door, Maurice Hardwick, known as "Pastor Moe" made a promise to Detroit on behalf of the CVI leaders at the park: "Change is coming. Now, now, now." Phillip Sample, joined by dozens of others who have been doing the work for years to ensure their neighborhoods are safe, was energized when the group took to the streets surrounding Skinner Playfield to pass out flyers. He gave them to everyone he saw, like those in the three cars pulling out of the Family Dollar on Payton and Morang. As for the homes that went unanswered, he left flyers at their doors. Sandy Turner of 4820Live, a longtime organizer in the neighborhood, was energized, too. What brought her to the streets that day isn't different from why Skinner Playfield was built in the first place. It was built by the community in 2016 with safety as its purpose, she said. "We built the playground for these babies ... Who would have thought that somebody was senseless enough to shoot by a playscape? A playscape," she said. But when they reached the playground where the shooting occurred, Sample, Turner, and the rest of the group became solemn. Sample said where they now stood was hallowed ground — it was the spot where a dispute ended in bloodshed, taking the lives of Samir, who loved to play and jump on his mother's bed in the mornings, and Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, who took anyone in need in as a brother or sister, who his father loved raising. So it was there that Sample decided the group would pray for the lives lost, for justice and for peace. Pastor Moe was one of the clergymen who led a prayer. When he did, he got on his hands and knees, other men followed suit. "We touch this ground, this blood on this ground. We honor the life of this baby. We honor the lives of our children," he cried aloud. Sample was among the men on the ground, now in tears. The group would chime in: "yes, yes." It was Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy of Force Detroit, though, that wouldn't let the group leave without remembering what Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey's father had demanded. "Look who's out here right now," Kennedy said. To those who didn't show up: "Hold them accountable," he said. Turner, Sample, and others will be back in the neighborhood on Tuesday, passing out flyers and sharing resources. Team Pursuit will have officially launched its "Protect the Zone" youth program. And Grubbs and Shelmonson-Bey will still hope their grief will actually prompt change. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit leaders mobilize after child, teen killed in triple shooting
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community groups push restorative justice for racialized Winnipeggers
Community groups in Winnipeg are pushing for a more restorative approach to policing and prosecuting racialized communities in Winnipeg. An event on Saturday organized by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (SPCW) and other community groups saw the release of a new report and manual that looks to highlight "the lived realities of safety, trust, and community belonging for racialized and newcomer youth in Winnipeg." The "Community Solutions for Safety for Racialized Newcomer Youth in Winnipeg," report, published this month by the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, collected first-hand accounts from 76 youth between the ages of 13 and 35. The youth came from diverse immigrant, ethnocultural, educational, gendered and socioeconomic backgrounds, each having unique lived experiences and views on safety in the city, including the local police force and justice system. Report authors Darrien Morton and Matt Fast found that some youth wanted more police protection while others wanted officers to stay away – and some didn't want to talk about police at all. Meanwhile, community leaders described their exhaustion and frustration with "performative police engagement." "What communities asked for, more than anything, was accountability. A safe presence. Someone to turn to. And what's even better, adequate resources," Morton and Fast wrote. The report shows that racialized, newcomer and Indigenous communities in Winnipeg, and those who were born here to immigrant parents often find systems like policing and the courts system to be "distant, ineffective, or even unsafe," SPCW said. Writers Morton and Fast said there was a widely-held belief among the youth that "police have more unchecked power than most people can imagine," which makes the prospect of changing that system seem "distant or unrealistic." Those issues are leading to the continued overrepresentation of racialized persons and groups in the criminal justice system, including immigrant and Indigenous communities, according to the report. The manual was released after a three-year, three-phase project that began in 2021, launched after several fatal police encounters in Manitoba. A 2020 analysis by CBC News found that most fatal police encounters involved Indigenous people. The goals of the project did change over time, as SPCW says originally they were hoping to improve trust between Indigenous, Black, and racialized newcomer communities and the Winnipeg Police Service through a 'Community Safety and Inclusion Office' or 'Hub.' Due to "deep divisions and concerns about policing," however, SPCW says the project pivoted to focus on understanding how racialized newcomers and specifically newcomer youth perceive safety, trust, and justice reform in Winnipeg. The study also looks at questions about if more police on the streets would improve safety or cause more harm, and if trust can even be built between communities and the police, or if the relationship is permanently "broken." The document also highlights "systemic shortcomings" in addressing newcomer safety and justice, including overlooking newcomer diversity, fragmented care, superficial accountability, uneven data practices, and fractured solidarity. "There's a need for standardized evaluation, culturally adapted legal literacy, 24/7 civilian-led crisis response, and peer-led youth programs," the report states. The groups said the report comes with what they are calling several "suggestions or more-than-recommendations," rather than traditional recommendations to avoid placing an "unfair burden on participants to solve systemic problems." Restorative justice is defined by the Government of Canada as "an approach to justice that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and those who take responsibility for the harm to communicate about and address their needs in the aftermath of a crime." SPCW said they believe a more restorative approach would lead to less racialized people being charged with crimes and incarcerated in Winnipeg, and said they will continue to promote strategies and recommendations to promote the safety and well-being of racialized newcomers and newcomer youth in our city. "Some of the most meaningful forms of harm reduction come not from surveillance or intervention … but from how public space is cared for. Fixing deep-seated problems shouldn't have to stop us from making things a little bit better now," Morton and Fast wrote.
CBC
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Community groups push restorative justice for racialized Winnipeggers
Community groups in Winnipeg are pushing for a more restorative approach to policing and prosecuting racialized communities in Winnipeg. An event on Saturday organized by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (SPCW) and other community groups saw the release of a new report and manual that looks to highlight "the lived realities of safety, trust, and community belonging for racialized and newcomer youth in Winnipeg." The "Community Solutions for Safety for Racialized Newcomer Youth in Winnipeg," report, published this month by the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, collected first-hand accounts from 76 youth between the ages of 13 and 35. The youth came from diverse immigrant, ethnocultural, educational, gendered and socioeconomic backgrounds, each having unique lived experiences and views on safety in the city, including the local police force and justice system. Report authors Darrien Morton and Matt Fast found that some youth wanted more police protection while others wanted officers to stay away – and some didn't want to talk about police at all. Meanwhile, community leaders described their exhaustion and frustration with "performative police engagement." "What communities asked for, more than anything, was accountability. A safe presence. Someone to turn to. And what's even better, adequate resources," Morton and Fast wrote. The report shows that racialized, newcomer and Indigenous communities in Winnipeg, and those who were born here to immigrant parents often find systems like policing and the courts system to be "distant, ineffective, or even unsafe," SPCW said. Writers Morton and Fast said there was a widely-held belief among the youth that "police have more unchecked power than most people can imagine," which makes the prospect of changing that system seem "distant or unrealistic." Those issues are leading to the continued overrepresentation of racialized persons and groups in the criminal justice system, including immigrant and Indigenous communities, according to the report. The manual was released after a three-year, three-phase project that began in 2021, launched after several fatal police encounters in Manitoba. A 2020 analysis by CBC News found that most fatal police encounters involved Indigenous people. The goals of the project did change over time, as SPCW says originally they were hoping to improve trust between Indigenous, Black, and racialized newcomer communities and the Winnipeg Police Service through a 'Community Safety and Inclusion Office' or 'Hub.' Due to "deep divisions and concerns about policing," however, SPCW says the project pivoted to focus on understanding how racialized newcomers and specifically newcomer youth perceive safety, trust, and justice reform in Winnipeg. The study also looks at questions about if more police on the streets would improve safety or cause more harm, and if trust can even be built between communities and the police, or if the relationship is permanently "broken." The document also highlights "systemic shortcomings" in addressing newcomer safety and justice, including overlooking newcomer diversity, fragmented care, superficial accountability, uneven data practices, and fractured solidarity. "There's a need for standardized evaluation, culturally adapted legal literacy, 24/7 civilian-led crisis response, and peer-led youth programs," the report states. The groups said the report comes with what they are calling several "suggestions or more-than-recommendations," rather than traditional recommendations to avoid placing an "unfair burden on participants to solve systemic problems." Restorative justice is defined by the Government of Canada as "an approach to justice that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and those who take responsibility for the harm to communicate about and address their needs in the aftermath of a crime." SPCW said they believe a more restorative approach would lead to less racialized people being charged with crimes and incarcerated in Winnipeg, and said they will continue to promote strategies and recommendations to promote the safety and well-being of racialized newcomers and newcomer youth in our city. "Some of the most meaningful forms of harm reduction come not from surveillance or intervention … but from how public space is cared for. Fixing deep-seated problems shouldn't have to stop us from making things a little bit better now," Morton and Fast wrote.
CBS News
28-06-2025
- CBS News
Reading, Pennsylvania adds 10 p.m. curfew for kids under 18
By Sydney-Leigh Brockington Reading, Pennsylvania will enforce a juvenile curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for people under 18 unless accompanied with a guardian or responsible adult, officials announced during a Thursday press conference. The move comes after community members called on local officials to end youth misconduct, Mayor Eddie Moran said. Moran said that although overall crime is down in Reading, there is still work to be done. He also reiterated that this curfew isn't about punishment or arrests, but rather youth protection. "Some of our young people are still ending up in situations that put their safety and future in risk. Families are still being impacted in ways no parent should have to face," Moran said. "That is why we are focused on prevention, support and community partnerships." The city is also launching a working group of city employees, police department partner organizations and community leaders to help shape new, smarter safety policies and support parents. City officials are also calling on local schools, hospitals, colleges, employers, non-profit organizations and faith-based organizations to step up and help Reading youth. Moran said Reading previously dedicated $1 million two years ago to create a youth violence prevention group that quickly dissipated after a lack of engagement. "Every young person deserves the opportunity to grow up safe and supported," Moran said. Reading officials say that citations from $50 to $300 could be issued to those who repeatedly break curfew.
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
'Dangerous spectacle': Health experts push for Run It Straight ban
Photo: runitstraight24 Run It Straight is a "dangerous spectacle" that is harming young people and must be banned immediately, say Aotearoa's leading trauma clinicians. Three frontline medical professionals issued the warning in a hard-hitting editorial published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal. It follows the death of Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, who died during a backyard Run It Straight-style game. The editorial, written by trauma nurse Sarah Logan, surgical registrar Rachel Lauchlan, and general surgeon Dr Christopher Wakeman, calls on councils, schools, and sporting bodies to take urgent action to prevent further harm. "Run It Straight is not a sport. It is a dangerous spectacle that has already claimed a young life. It's continued promotion is medically indefensible and ethically unjustifiable." The unregulated challenge involves two people sprinting toward each other and colliding at full force, often without helmets. Social media clips celebrate knockouts and impact hits, but health experts say what they're really watching is long-term brain trauma unfold. "Even a single concussive blow can cause permanent cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairment, particularly in adolescents and young adults whose brains are still developing," the authors wrote. "Repetitive collisions of this kind increase the likelihood of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive degenerative brain disease." The health experts want councils to not allow Run It Straight events, schools and clubs to ban the practice, sports stars to stop endorsing it, social media platforms to remove harmful content, and public health campaigns to raise awareness of the risks. "We cannot afford another preventable death … Let this be the last death." In May 2025, Satterthwaite died after suffering a severe head injury. Also in May, at a Run It Championship League event at Auckland's Trust Arena, two participants were knocked unconscious, one suffered a seizure, and an estimated one in four competitors showed signs of concussion. Ryan Satterthwaite. Photo: Instagram The editorial also challenges claims that the events help build community pride and service saying. "Young men are pressured to earn respect through violence, and injury is glorified as a badge of honour. We must dismantle this idea. Real mana is not shown through unregulated impact, but through insight and true sport tactics, and lies in caring for oneself and others." There are at least two separate groups associated with Run It Straight-style events, the grassroots team led by Christian Lesa, also known as Charizma. There's a commercial competition called the Run It Championship League, which hosted the Trust Arena event in Auckland in May. Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Tauanuʻu Nick Bakulich commented on the grassroots group who attempted to host events in South Auckland. "Our local board has made a stance with a recent event that was due to take place in Māngere, which we did not endorse," Tauanuʻu said. "This very recent death, tragic death, clearly outlines why we should be looking at banning such activity." Local Democracy Reporting asked Tauanuʻu how communities could better balance cultural pride, masculinity, and community spirit without compromising safety. "It's definitely not through an event like Run It Straight. There's lots of other opportunities out there for our people, playing a sport in a controlled environment, or even weightlifting, bodybuilding, body sculpturing, all very popular at the moment." Auckland Council confirmed it has not approved any Run It Straight events and said its permitting process cannot be used to ban them under current bylaws. "We are only aware of one event being held on council land, which was held at a South Auckland park without any council notification or endorsement," said Taryn Crewe, General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities. "If the organisers of Run-it Straight-type events had approached the council to seek a permit, we would be unlikely to approve it because of the serious health and safety impacts." The council is open to improving its processes as new sports evolve, to ensure risks are effectively managed on public land, she said. "It is always helpful when sports codes show leadership by calling out unsafe practices. Players have a huge influence as respected role models on how some of these activities evolve." Tauanuʻu said council systems are robust, but warns informal Run It Straight events show why communities must stay alert and well-informed. "It's quite clear what our parks and reserves are used for. And this type of activity is certainly outside of those parameters." RUNIT Championship League and the Run It Straight owner and CEO, Christian Lesa, were approached for comment. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
