By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Dozens of determined residents turned out Tuesday at Niagara Square for a rally to end violence in Buffalo. The event was sponsored by the recently formed Stop the Violence Coalition in response to the rising number of homicides in the city.
Nearly 500 murders, dating back to 1990, remain unsolved. State, city, church and community leaders gathered in solidarity demanding action. Deacon Anthony Brown is Chair of the Coalition. He says the first thing the city needs is a homicide squad that can focus on the problem.
"How can a city this size not have a homicide squad?" Brown asked. "If you have 24 officers working in a (major crimes) unit, and a homicide takes place today and a rape later on, then they put down the homicide and go to the rape. That means all the cases are put on a shelf. If we had a homicide squad to deal with those particular cases, we would have some results."
Brown says the rally is merely a beginning. He says the coalition will keep pressure on the city until the necessary changes are made.