POUGHKEEPSIE – A rally organized by groups seeking to combat gun violence in Poughkeepsie drew a large crowd of concerned citizens to a city park on Saturday.
The “Increase the Peace” rally was organized by Robert Pemberton and Joe Stratford of “Stop the Violence.” The two men were the driving force behind one of the largest rallies in the Hudson Valley in 2020 when they protested police-related deaths with the “We Can’t Breathe” rally that drew more than 2,000 people to Poughkeepsie and included a peaceful march that shut down the Mid-Hudson Bridge.”
Pemberton brought together several community organizations at the Earline Patrice Mansion Square Park to let people hear firsthand the unintended consequences of gun violence, along with other social issues, including a woman’s right to choose.
With several elected officials in attendance including Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, and several city council members, speakers told their stories related to gun violence and how it affected their families.
Poughkeepsie restauranteur Los Wood, owner of Gennie’s, told the crowd of how he was shot and how it affected him both physically and mentally. “In 1998 I was shot three times while hosting an event on Cannon Street. I thought I was going to die,” he said. “I thought it was over until the Poughkeepsie cops arrived and Officer Skip Mannain personally rushed me to the hospital, where the doctors told me I would never walk again. Well, I am walking just fine, but the shooting left scars physically and mentally.”
Wood told of how he never expected to be the victim of gun violence and how he has spent the time since then speaking against the problem. “I was given a second chance and I want to give other people a chance to do something, instead of being caught up in bad situations.”
A second man, part of Moms Demand Action told of the sorrow his family has experienced since their son was killed by a gunman more than a decade ago. “I was very angry,” the NYC resident said. “The killers were in prison but got to visit with their family while my wife and I have to go to the cemetery to visit with our son. There is no place in society for gun violence.”
Pemberton told Mid-Hudson News, “In order for gun violence to end, the entire community needs to come together and that includes the elected officials and the police department. When someone gets shot here in Poughkeepsie, people say the cops need to do more,” he said. “The people that say that are the same people that don’t cooperate with police to identify suspects and help get guns off the streets. We all need to work together.”
