Belizeans Galvanize Against Crime and Violence

Micah Goodin

With the success of Wednesday’s vigil held in memory of Chryslin Gladden, today activist, Micah Goodin, announced that another vigil is to be held. It is planned for Friday August eight, 2014 beginning at five-thirty p.m. at the corner of Trinity Street and Central American Boulevard.  He says that violence will continue if the community does not take a stand. 

Micah Goodin, Coordinator of Vigil

“We have a vigil scheduled for this Friday is light of the recent outburst of violence and criminal activity. We are looking to assemble at the corner of Trinity Street and Central American Boulevard at around five-thirty p.m. and from there we want to move up the boulevard, on to Cemetery Road and into Constitution Park where we will have a short ceremony which should conclude about eight p.m. thereabout. The reason for this vigil is as a result of the recent outburst of violence, especially July. July was a very bloody month in our city and it touched me and it touched those around me and as a result, we decided to organize this. The message that we are trying to send is that we want to rescue our community; we want to rescue our future. Many young people have been robbed of their future.”

Chelsea Wagner

“Are you guys targeting a particular group of people to come out? Could you tell us a little bit about the type of crowd you expect to come out?”

Micah Goodin

“Well I expect a mixed crowd comprising of both elders and young people and it is open to the public so the common man is invited. The man at the highest, in the highest office is also invited. So we want to get a mixed crowd. For once in our country’s history, for once as young people, we are trying to push politics aside; we are trying to push everything aside because we are tired of dying. Tonight I could be dead, tomorrow it could be Andrew, next day it could be you, next month it could be Duane. This is in no way political. We are just tired of dying and that is it, point blank. We are tired of losing our future, we are tired of being robbed of our place in this country.”

Two persons have been charged for the murder of Gladden. They are a former classmate, Ashley Meighan and twenty-three year old Clement Bol Junior.