Rally takes back Africville Park after shooting at annual reunion

Former residents of Africville are calling for the community to come together and take action to stop gun violence after five people were injured in a shooting at an annual reunion.

When gunshots rang out in Africville on July 27, Beatrice Wilkins was "pissed off."

The former resident was at the 41st annual reunion which aims to bring the community together in the park which is a national historic site. Africville residents were displaced and their homes demolished by the City of Halifax in the 1960s.

"Whatever the problem was with these people, they're too afraid to go in and use words or fisticuffs instead of guns," said Wilkins. "We've been here for 41 years and I'm not going anywhere, I want the public to know that we will not be moved."

Send a message

902 Man Up, a group dedicated to improving community safety, organized the rally to take back the park.

Irvine Carvery, president of the Africville Genealogy Society, said it was important to send a message.

"People are always welcome in Africville," said Carvery. "Nothing is going to deter us from gathering on our land."

Carvery said deterring gun violence is a complicated issue, but elected officials have the power to work with community groups and put together a comprehensive strategy.

"It's an act of desperation when someone picks up a gun and feels that that's the way that they can get by in this world," said Carvery.

Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean, who officially starts his role Monday, said he supports the genealogy's society's calls for a safety committee.

WATCH |Africville reunion organizers to form safety committee after shooting:

Africville reunion organizers to form safety committee after shooting

2 months ago

Duration 2:10

As Brooklyn Currie reports, organizers are exploring how they can ensure safety at future events. This comes on the heels of a shooting at the 41st annual reunion two weeks ago that sent five people, including a teenager, to hospital.

No one has been charged in relation tothe incident last month.

"Anyone who knows what went on. Come forward," said Wilkins.

Wilkins, who had family members injured in the shooting, said reducing violence starts with young people speaking up and being heard by adults.

"If you see somebody being hurt, just say something," she said.

"Listen to the kids. They know what they're saying."

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