Last Saturday, mayhem broke out at a “Freaknik” party where roughly 500 partygoers gathered around the Fourth Avenue and Johnson Street area. Late into the night, a fight broke out that led to gunfire, ultimately claiming the lives of Pamela Whitson, 51, and Ryan Clemons, 19, with a dozen others wounded.
In the aftermath of the party turned tragedy, Mayor Brenda F. Moore issued the following statement:
“Last weekend, our city was rocked once again by senseless gun violence. Although cities across Michigan and the nation may have similar experiences, we cannot accept this in our community.
“It has always been my goal and the goal of every council member to improve the quality of life in our city. Every resident has a right to believe their home and their neighborhood streets will be a safe place for them and their families. My heart aches for each victim and their friends and family. The loss of life is a tragedy for all of us. The senseless and tragic violence that occurred in our city last weekend is devastating for the entire community. We all experience the impact of these traumatic events. It affects our entire community.
“As we enter the summer months, it is crucial that we address the root causes of gun violence and do whatever it takes to prevent our young people from getting involved in it. It’s time to act. We cannot stand by as we lose an entire generation to this ongoing violence. We need to identify and put forward a long-term solution to prevent the gun violence on our streets and in our neighborhoods. It’s time to move forward.
“This week, I began meeting with local community leaders from various organizations to discuss ways we can engage with young adults and those most affected by this violence. This is a great starting point as we begin to develop a plan. I believe as we work together, we can turn the tide on this senseless violence and make our city safer for all.
“The solution will require effort. It will require teamwork. It will require action. We must begin to engage with parents, ensure we have role models in our schools, and community members with street credibility talking with our youth and young adults. My hope is that this group that has been formed will continue to work together to share information and ideas that will build a safer Saginaw.
“In the coming weeks, citizens will learn more about the steps we are taking to achieve our goal of creating a safe, welcoming city. We will be honest about our challenges and transparent about the solutions and resources available to fight against this violence in our city. I encourage all citizens to get involved when they hear of any opportunity to serve in this initiative.
“When I became your Mayor, I encouraged all of you to go out of your way to love. We need to return to that–let’s show a little extra love to our city during this time. We’ve made too much progress in recent years to allow this violence to set us back. We must all be determined to continue to move forward.
“I can assure you that I am determined. As always, I will work with and support the Police Chief and the City Administration to ensure we do all that we can to address this issue. I will also continue to invest my time and work with other community leaders to help end this senseless violence.”
See Also: Pastors lead response to weekend’s party-gone-wrong
