ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For the past several years, DeShawn McLamore has seen and been impacted by the gun violence plaguing Rochester.
“It is not normal,” said McLamore, Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach supporting housing director. "The amount of people who most of us know who have been affected by gun violence is not normal. It is very traumatic. That is trauma.”
Another day has turned into another shooting, the latest injuring five individuals and taking the lives of Tyasia Manning, 25, and Phylicia Council, 34.
“[What] we've come to do tonight is to honor those who have lost their lives, those who were wounded, and the hundreds of us that were traumatized just by hearing of the event, let alone those who were in the states who are still hurting,” said Reverend Myra Brown of Spiritus Christi Church. “This event wounded an entire community.”
Hundreds of people, including children, were in Rochester's Maplewood Park when rounds were fired from multiple weapons shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
“I was here shortly after the shooting that happened, and what stuck with me was the aftermath,” Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said. “The shoes, the grills, the articles of clothing, the baby stroller. And all of that stuck with me.”
Hundreds turned into a handful of community members in an attempt to reclaim and sanctify the scene of the shooting.
“God, having cast out fear, darkness and terror and anxiety from this space, we invoke you and unleash the joy and love of gathering as a community of care,” Rev. Brown said. “We declare and decree that families will enter this space to enjoy each other again.”
Gathering organizations and residents within just a few hours for prayer, ceremony, song and care offerings.
Led by local faith leaders, the goal was to honor the lives lost and those impacted by trauma and to continue to support each other toward peace and becoming a community of care.
“Many times, something happens and we go about our regular day without processing,” McLamore said. “And I think it's important to bring events like this to people so we can process. We can process. And I think that process can help us move better, move forward better.”
As the survivors and their families from the mass shooting continue to find healing and hopefully answers for those responsible.
“I hope that people are processing,” McLamore said. “I hope that people are talking about what they experienced. Making relationships is really important. And if you care about your neighbor, you would not want to harm them. So getting out there, being pleasant with people, smiling at people will just make the community a better place, I think.”
The support and grief do not end at this event. Organizers from the Spiritus Christi Church will continue to host acute crisis in trauma care all day Friday and assigned hours on Saturday.