More than 200 people, many wearing orange, and many touched personally by gun violence, turned out for the First Annual 5K Run, Walk and Roll Against Gun Violence hosted by the Office of Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.

 

The event was held along Lou Gehrig Plaza opposite the Bronx County Courthouse at East 161st Street and Grand Concourse and was held on Saturday, June 4, at the start of Gun Violence Awareness Month.

 

Joining Clark at the 5K’s starting point were fellow Democratic elected officials, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Sen. Robert Jackson (S.D.31), Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson (A.D. 79) and City Councilwoman Althea Stevens (C.D.16.) Also in attendance was NYPD Chief Phillip Rivera of Patrol Borough Bronx and members of the 41st, 45th and 47th Precinct Community Councils.

 

Members representing various gun violence interruption groups like Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence, Guns Down Life Up, Stand Up to Violence, Brady United Against Gun Violence, and Save Our Streets were also in attendance. Meanwhile, VIP Community Services were on hand to provide COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and booster shots to attendees.

On the topic of gun violence, Clark told the excited participants, “We are going to do everything we can and each of you are examples of that, that we’re doing what we can, to bring awareness… As a Bronx, we are a better community than what we’re seeing now.” She added, “I know the hurt and pain of so many of you, because I have sat with you. I have been there with you.”

 

The pain Clark spoke of was clearly apparent when speaker, Eve Hendricks, recalled learning of the fatal shooting on June 29, 2020, of her 17-year-old son, Brandon, a rising basketball who was just about to start college.

 

A very emotional Hendricks told the crowd, “I’m calling on all of you politicians, Congress! I believe the president says that Congress cannot do anything about gun violence, so it’s up to us! It’s up to us, the Bronx!” Hendricks added, “The Bronx, it’s a beautiful place, and we’re going to get it back because it’s our home. It’s our kids’ home and no monster is going to take another child.”

Zahanie Brown, a member of Guns Down Life Up, later recalled, “I’m a trans man and a surviving victim of gun violence. In January of last year, I was shot four times at close range by a man that was a complete stranger.”

 

Brown continued, “I have a purpose, and not let my anger, pain and vengeance win, that what I’m going through turns into something positive.” Saying he was assisted by two members of Guns Down Life Up during his recovery, Brown concluded, “I wanted to become a part of their organization when I witnessed firsthand what they do and what they stand for.”

 

For her part, Gibson said, “We cannot and will not accept this violence and so today, as we walk, as we run, as we jog, we do it in honor of those that we have lost, those families who will never be the same again. It’s so heartbreaking to stand here and to see the faces of our parents and our families that are affected by violence.”

 

The borough president later announced that her office would double the Brandon Hendricks-Ellison Scholarship Fund this year to $100,000 in order to assist Bronx teens pay for college.

After the event, Brown was asked about his January 10, 2021 shooting which he said took place on Fox Street. Brown said of his assailant’s arrest and incarceration, “They only gave him nine years.” Asked if that bothered him, he responded, “A lot, yeah it does.” Asked if he had faith that new gun control reform bills due to be signed into law by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul later that day would make a difference on Bronx streets, Brown replied, “A little bit, but I think there’s more they can do.”

 

Every participant who completed the 5K was provided vouchers good for two free tickets to an upcoming game at Yankee Stadium.