City Council member Bill Foster and St. Petersburg NAACP president Trenia Byrd-Cox on Saturday voiced strong support for a grass roots campaign whose organizers are trying to end gun violence in the city.
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 23, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - City Council member Bill Foster and St. Petersburg NAACP president Trenia Byrd-Cox on Saturday voiced strong support for a grass roots campaign whose organizers are trying to end gun violence in the city.
Speaking on a public television show, Byrd-Cox blamed "the gods of materialism" for bringing on dozens of gun deaths instigated by drug dealers.
"They have chosen to sell something illegal to get (material wealth). They have chosen to sell drugs. There's competition, and that brings on the violence," Byrd-Cox said.
Later, Foster underscored his support for the sidewalk, sometimes door-to-door, effort taking place in some neighborhoods.
"That's the only answer. That's the only solution that I've determined will work, when it comes from the grass roots.
"It's got to come from the people, from the neighborhoods. The churches have to take a major responsibility to change hearts," Foster said.
Foster and Byrd-Cox appeared on Straight from Da Streets, a 2-year-old program aired on Access Pinellas. The show aims to help young people avoid the pitfalls of street culture and encourages them to pursue legitimate business careers, said producer A.J. Ali.
Also on Saturday's show were Denise Swisher, an organizer of the antiviolence campaign whose 18-year-old son Forbes "P-Nut" Swisher was shot to death; the Rev. Clarence Williams of Mount Zion AME Church; and author Quincy S. Smith.
As a minister, street violence affects him directly, Williams said. "It takes me to the cemetery. It takes me to the hospital," he said.
Last year, Straight from Da Streets was named the best Pinellas public access show.
Guests include young people, musicians and business people, said Ali, who also is the chief executive officer of Young Entrepreneurs, a mentoring and motivational organization for young people.
Saturday's show, featuring a panel of recognizable community figures, represented a new step.
"I want to think of that as a beginning," Ali said. "We want to keep the politicians and clergymen coming in."
He said he hopes to promote the show at community centers such as those at Campbell Park and Childs Park. He wants to produce "town hall meeting" segments in which parents and youngsters would serve as the show's studio audience, contributing their ideas to panel discussions.
Swisher said she is still busy in the campaign, as are the mothers of two other slain youths, Breeshell Devine and Alicia Roberts.
"I talk to kids all day long," Swisher said. "They're calling me. They're e-mailing me constantly."
She is producing a play about resolving problems without violence and is trying to jump-start the Forbes Swisher Foundation.
The foundation, she said, would provide counseling and a safe haven for youngsters.
Saturday's Straight from Da Streets program will air later this month on Knology (Channel 21) and Bright House (Channel 96). Days and times are 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 6 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. Saturdays.
