A youth leader is encouraging all Jamaicans to wear black today as a statement against the increasing murders since the start of the year.
The Wear Black Today campaign was started by Lawman Lynch, a youth leader with the Kingston and St. Andrew Action Forum, following the shooting of seven people in Allman Town last week.
Upset
In a meeting following the shooting, he said he heard an education officer say she was upset by the shooting and just felt like wearing black. He said he got the idea from what that teacher said and decided to send out an e-mail to as many people as he knew, encouraging them to do that and pass on the message.
However, he says black is not only a sign of mourning for those who have died, but a sign of strength. "Black means more than that, it signifies strength and boldness," he told THE STAR.
Solidarity
Lynch feels Jamaicans can rise above the murders if everybody unites. "Crime and violence is staring us in the face and, unless we come together and stand in solidarity it will destroy us," he said.
He said since sending out the e-mail, he has received responses from persons suggesting the campaign should be more frequent, with everyone wearing black once a week or monthly to send the message that we want a crime-free society until something is done.
In the e-mail, he mourns the death of a friend killed in the recent shootings in Allman Town and calls on the society to wear black. "Let's mourn the death of so many of our Jamaican brothers and sisters, let's mourn the death of our youth and children, let's collectively make a statement; crime is out of control, but we need not block the roads, just WEAR SOMETHING BLACK," the e-mail said.
Condolence book
He said today, he and some other representatives from various organisations will be visiting the Denham Town Police Station to sign the condolence book. Two police constables attached to the Kingston Western Police Division were recently killed in Federal Gardens.
Although Lynch is not too sure about where the campaign will end up, he is encouraging Jamaicans to get involved in the fight against crime and make a statement discouraging the murders in the society.
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