Tears, fears after bloody week

The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass.
www.enterprisenews.com

By Maureen Boyle
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
BROCKTON — Felicia Starks Washington rested her head on her husband's shoulder and gazed at the body of her 19-year-old son in the coffin.
Teenage girls in the church rows behind her wiped away tears. Red-eyed boys lowered their eyes.
It was the first funeral of a Brockton homicide victim this year.
It will not be the last.
In the eight days since Markeen Starks was stabbed to death on New Year's Day on Skinner Street, three people have been shot.
One was killed, a second is clinging to life.
"I'm sick and tired of hearing of our young people dying foolishly," Nancy Mency, an evangelist at Full Gospel Tabernacle Church, told the more than 300 people crammed into the Main Street church.
"The Lord wants us to get it together so we can get these kids off the street, with the knives and the guns," she said. "You don't have to live like that. You don't have to walk in fear."
Now, community leaders and parents are calling for change to end the cycle of violence.
"The community is in an uproar," said Ollie Jay Spears, a member of the Brockton Peace Crusaders. "We need to step up with a united force ... We need a whole community to get involved. We need the citizens that never spoke up."
Mayor James E. Harrington, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, Police Chief William Conlon and state police officials Wednesday mapped out plans to increase police patrols throughout the city.
The Brockton Peace Crusaders met later in the night to talk about what else the community can do.
"We can't afford to have more retaliation," the police chief said. "We have to stop this now."
In the meantime, the Starks family and those who knew Markeen Starks grieved.
More than 300 people filled the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church for the funeral of Starks, an aspiring musician.
Many mourners were in their teens or early 20s, some wearing T-shirts bearing Starks' photo.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• GHSVID
• GHSNEVID
• Brockton
• funeral
• shooting

[MurdaYaBlock]

R.I.P Markeen

R.I.P Tito my bro attended his wake & was killed shortly after R.I.P gone but never forgotten

[bestkeptsecretout]

No Brother's Blood Sung By The Late Cedella Marley Her Message To The Youth And People Through My Song! To Get Your Own Copy Go To i-tunes Under Songs Of Hope And Remembrance For Hard Copies Of Video Or CD Go To my space tina maries original songs Please Stop The Violence!

[7allenb]

Stop breeding in this over populated planet. if you can’t fully educate & financially support (food, clothes, toys, bikes, cars, dental, College, vacations etc) then stop popping kids out. It’s a vagina, not a clown car.

[bestkeptsecretout]

A Tribute To World Disasters ,Haiti, Katrina, 911, Oklahoma Bombing, Nashville TN Floods, Iraq , ECT.... This Video Is A Tribute To Grieving Families Every Where All Over The World "Restore

A Tribute To World Disasters ,Haiti, Katrina, 911, Oklahoma Bombing, Nashville TN Floods, Iraq , ECT.... This Video Is A Tribute To Grieving Families Every Where All Over The World "Restore Hope" Black On Black Violence Must End!

[bestkeptsecretout]

This Video Is A Tribute To Grieving Families Every Where All Over The World

I'm Praying For All Of You "Let Jesus Fix Your Heart" I Know It's Broken And Heavy Burdened! He Can Fix It!!! Trust In Him!!! To Get A Copy Of This Song For Your Continued Listening Go To i-tunes Under "Songs Of Hope And Remembrance"

[pee9501]

The Brockton Peace Crusaders are a huge asset to the community. On April 17th i had the pleasure of meeting some of the organizers and they were truly inspirational. The City should be so thankful that we have young people that care so muce about what goes on in Brockton.

[Dijon423]

No where to run no where to hide. How much longer will the violence continue? It's not just Brockton. I remember years ago when Brockton was for the most part relatively quiet an OK place to visit. Killing is everywhere. I wish we could place every brawler, shot caller together in one place in order that we know who they are and see how well they do together. I wonder if anything is positive about them other than the air they breathe? Why can't we give peace a chance in "MY" life time?

[yopapadukes]

rest in power