Mount Vernon – Dozens of friends and family members gathered a few nights this week on the corner of South Eighth Avenue and West Fifth Street in front of a local neighborhood deli to pay their respects to Kyle Dennis.
Kyle Dennis better known as Skeet was shot & killed as shots rang out near the the stage of Mount Vernon’s annual Arts On Third Festival, Sunday night. Dennis, a 42-year-old Mount Vernon resident, was pronounced dead at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital after being shot multiple times in the chest around 8:30 p.m., according to Shawn Harris, deputy police commissioner for the city.
In front of the store, many stopped by to light candles and hang a shrine with a plethora of pictures of better times to honor another black man who was a victim to senseless gun violence that has plagued the city of Mount Vernon. The gathering and show of love on 8th and 5th should be a reminder to all of us, that this is a time for all of Mount Vernon to come together as a city so we can heal and work together to find a way to end this senseless violence.
Another family has lost a loved one, another mother must bury her son, a two-month-old son has lost a father that will never see him grow up, go over homework with him, teach him about girls and guide him into manhood. As we our outraged of all those nationwide who have lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement, we should be equally outraged when it comes at the hands of one of our own. Black Lives Matter is just a popular saying and hashtag until Black Lives truly begin to matter to Black People.
Deputy Police Commissioner Harris said no one has been arrested and would not say whether police had identified a suspect, calling it an active investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them. BW will keep you informed in this developing story.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Dennis burial and for his young son, If you would like to contribute click on this link.
In closing I leave you with the words of Marvin Gaye, a very monumentally influential soul/R&B vocalist whose music incorporated socio-political issues, atmospheric arrangements, and unified album themes.
Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today – Ya
Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on
AJ Woodson
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
