Anti-violence activists rally in Hartford, give preview of armed civilian patrols
Hartford CT September 4, 2023, Amid chants of “Let’s patrol,” a group of activists — some openly carrying guns — walked up and down a North End street Saturday for the first of what
The short patrol followed a rally in the parking lot of Unity Plaza at Charlotte and Barbour streets, one of many areas that have been plagued by deadly gun violence. Seven speakers used a small megaphone to talk to a handful of people in the parking lot as a half-dozen police officers stood off to the side in case of trouble.
There was none, although one man expressed his displeasure with the group’s display of weapons by cursing and telling them to “get the (expletive) out of here!” Two women later objected to the group patrolling their neighborhood.
When the rally got underway, Cornell Lewis of the Self-Defense Brigade said the group was asked to be there. He had a handgun holstered on each hip and carried a shotgun. Another man, Al Coleman, carried a legal, semi-automatic, 9 mm gun that resembled an AR-15.
“We are here today because the community asked for certain groups to be out here,” Lewis said. “Tracy Funnye contacted me and some other people and wanted us to be out here to send a message.”
“There are elements of the community that are ready to patrol the community. They are willing to do this legally armed. They feel that the local authorities can’t protect them, and that the U.S. government won’t protect us. Historically, people of color have always protected themselves,” Lewis said.
Funnye, who is running for mayor, said she has nothing against the police.
“They need help,” she said.
She did offer a criticism, however. She said she would like to see officers do community-style policing in the neighborhoods instead of sitting in a patrol car in a parking lot.
“Community officers,” she said. “That’s what I want on my street.”
Funnye briefly addressed Hartford Sgt. Steven Austin, who had been handing out recruitment fliers, and he took the opportunity to remind the group that the Hartford Police Department is hiring.
Despite disagreement with some about the concept of displaying guns to ward off gun violence, there were no heated arguments. Most who disagreed didn’t show up.
Kelvin X, a student minister at Muhammad Mosque No. 14, the Hartford Study Group, brought up his opposition to weapons in the least confrontational way. While he thanked Funnye for standing up to gun violence, he said, “We do not carry guns, even so much as a pen knife,” as suit-wearing supporters stood on three sides of him.
“We don’t believe that we can answer the issue of guns with more guns,” he later said.
A second mayoral candidate spoke without specifically addressing the gun issue.
Stan McCauley said, “The citizens have a right to be protected. They have a right to walk the streets and not be afraid. And so, we as a community have to stand up, we as a community have to take back our streets…At some point, citizens feel that they have to protect themselves.”
Shaquana Leggett, from a social services agency called Community Renewal Team, or CRT, also spoke. She lives nearby on Barbour Street, she told the group.
Leggett said she thinks everyone should have the right to carry a weapon, although there should be more laws in place to better monitor those who do.
She also said she was disappointed in the turnout. The core group consisted of about eight people, and about a half-dozen others, including Leggett, joined the patrol.
“It should be more people out here,” Leggett said, adding that the parking lot should be “flooded” with people.
As for the police, she said, “I don’t want to say the cops aren’t doing anything, but at the end of the day, more needs to be done.”
Shawnda Barlow of Hartford said residents need to start quelling the violence in their own homes.
“I’m here today to tell you that if you want to make a change in the community, you have to start first,” she said. “The change starts at home.”
After Barlow spoke, a group of about 15 people started its patrol, walking north on Barbour Street and turning right onto Kensington Street.
“One, two,” Roland Dunham II said. “Let’s patrol!” the group responded.
“Three, four,” Dunham continued. “Let’s patrol!” answered the group.
Some residents weren’t pleased. One woman shouted that the group should go back to Barbour Street instead of her neighborhood, which is made up of tidy duplexes that replaced the notorious Stowe Village housing project.
“We got this,” another woman told the group.
The civilian patrols won’t be limited to the North End. Funnye said she will call a contact in the South End about setting up patrols there, too.
Funnye picked Unity Plaza for the location of the rally because it was the scene of so many shootings. Marion Edwards, 24, of Windsor was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting there on July 18, and a man who was with him was shot as well. The second man survived, police said, as did a man who was shot nearby on July 31.
On August 9, Terrawne Nickson, 47, of East Hartford died after being gunned down in the 300-block of Barbour Street near the plaza, police said.
As of Saturday, Hartford had 28 homicides this year, the vast majority from gunfire.
