Brooklyn annual anti-gun violence rally brings community together through connection and conversation
While the event featured music, skateboarding, free food, haircuts and art activities, organizers said the goal went far beyond entertainment.
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Just one day after a 15-year-old was shot in the foot in Bushwick, community leaders, advocates and members of the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office gathered for the sixth annual Anti-Gun Violence Rally.
While the event featured music, skateboarding, free food, haircuts and art activities, organizers said the goal went far beyond entertainment. It was about building relationships and creating opportunities that can help prevent violence before it starts.
At first glance, the gathering looked like a neighborhood summer celebration. Families, young people and local organizations filled the space with activities designed to draw residents together.
For Andrew Gelles, CEO of Substance Skate Park, providing positive outlets for young people is a key part of violence prevention.
"The way to stay out of trouble is by doing something productive," Gelles said. "So you need to do something productive. We got you."
The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office organized the rally, in partnership with several anti-gun violence organizations. Organizers said the event creates a space where people from different backgrounds and neighborhoods can interact, connect, and have meaningful conversations.
Jeannie Lopez Melendez, of the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, said the event is meant to show residents that there are alternatives to violence.
"Instead of pushing violence and having all these shootings, why don't we come together, have restorative circles, possibly come together in these types of settings?" Melendez said. "Let's talk about what the issues are."
Throughout the event, attendees shared ideas they believe could make a difference in reducing gun violence across Brooklyn. Among the most common suggestions were increased access to arts programs, job opportunities, and skilled trades training for young people.
Thomas Haynes, of Tailor Made For A King, emphasized the importance of creating environments where people feel safe communicating with one another.
"If we don't have these times where we could communicate and we are in safe spaces, a lack of communication can lead to a whole lot of other things," Haynes said.
The rally comes less than 24 hours after police said a 15-year-old boy was shot in the foot following a dispute in Bushwick, underscoring the challenges that continue to face communities across Brooklyn.
Organizers acknowledged that events like this alone cannot eliminate violence, but they believe every positive intervention matters.
"We can't stop everything," Haynes said. "But one less murder happening is a big thing."
Community leaders say the annual rally is one of many efforts aimed at fostering dialogue, building trust, and creating opportunities that can help keep neighborhoods safe.
