Anti-violence group rallies in Niagara Falls, New York

A group of community activists in Niagara Falls say gang violence is on the rise and they've had enough. YNN's Ryan Burgess went to an anti-violence rally Thursday to find out what's being done to turn this problem around.


NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A group of community activists chanted a message loud and clear Thursday evening.
"Every day there's something going on. If it's not a gun shooting or a stabbing, it's a fight," said Ernest Porter of East Side Men's Club in Niagara Falls.

After a shooting earlier this week on the corner of 19th Street and LaSalle Ave that seriously injured an 18-year-old, the group wanted to send a message.

"The message for people today is, stop the shooting, stop the killing, stop the violence in our communities and our neighborhoods," said Rev. Jimmy Seright of the group Operation SNUG.

Seright helped form Operation SNUG, which is the word "guns" spelled backwards. Members hit the streets, day and night, to stay ahead of an escalating gang problem.

"It was getting better for a while, but then it started getting a little worse. I think what's happening is, you've got in influx of people coming in from other cities and it's causing problems," said Seright.

SNUG brings the fight directly to gang members, trying to influence them before it's too late.

"I'll say, just think of your kids, think of your family, think of the people you're hurting," said SNUG member Willie Gulley.

Gulley wants people to know that help is never far away.

"There is help. Call us. We'll be there to help you. We want the kids to grow up. We want our kids to have a safe place to play," said Gulley.

Also participating in the rally was Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster and members of the Niagara Falls Police Department.

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[FratiSiciliani2790]

Thank you folks. Hopefully we can stop this from happening every where keep up the good work God Bless.