HIPHOSSIP MUSIC BLOG EDITOR “MS KEMI” OLUNLOYO BRINGS TORONTO RAPPERS AND MOTHER OF ANDREW DOWDEN TOGETHER TO DENOUNCE GUNS IN THEIR MUSIC AND VIDEOS IN RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING GUN VIOLENCE IN TORONTO
Crime Victim Advocate and Music Editor “Ms Kemi” Olunloyo is bringing Joan Newman, the mother of homicide victim Andrew Dowden and local Toronto hip-hop artists together in saying “No More” to GUNS in their MUSIC and VIDEOS! In the wake of the gun murders of the 4th rapper to date Donald “Don Kartel” Grant in the GTA, award winning rapper Michael "Meyend Tricks" George back in July 2007, 17-year-old aspiring rapper Chris “Splitz” Tshilombo of Ajax murdered at a pre-Caribana private party in a church hall in July 2010, all three with no arrests andaspiring rapper Andrew “Philly” Dowden who was riddled with bullets then dumped in the Humber river both in July 2010. Joan Newman is the mother of Andrew Dowden.
Not only the hip-hop community is losing so many of its members, most of these local Toronto artists are household names in the clubs, local concerts opening for the touring US artists as well as known by the average Toronto elementary, middle and high schoolers.The fact remains that the image of guns, gangs and violence is having a big impact in these children and it is time to leave these images behind! In today’s music there is no shortage of half naked women, alcohol, violence, guns and “gangsta” behaviours but the proverbial finger is pointed at HIP-HOP!
The rappers will also be addressing the recent rash of shootings in Toronto and the fact that Toronto youth absolutely do NOT need to be armed. Toronto Police have seized approximately 59 guns in 30 days, many from young offenders whose names cannot be released by law.
Overall crime in North America ’s 4th largest city has gone down BUT the victims are getting younger! Many of these recent shootings are allegedly being committed by young offenders some literarily being arrested within days of the crime. There are still many cases unsolved in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Of the 29 homicide victims killed by a gun to date in the GTA, only 5 of the victims have gotten arrests of 12 suspects in total and all 12 are black males as well as 28 of the 29 homicide victims being black.
As a Crime Victim and anti-gun Advocate in the community, Olunloyo told the Toronto Sun in October 2010 that the Black community is in a state of crisis. “Our children are dying like flies she said. Something must be done. If we as a community don’t care, how can we expect the police, the media, or anyone else to care?” Her blog HipHossip.com partnered local Rappers in May 2010 with Toronto Police’s TAVIS initiative to record public service announcements where the young members of the community can actually hear the messages on urban radio stations Flow 93.5FM and Z103.5FM from their favourite rappers. She however asks the community to start making anonymous Crime Stoppers calls, buck the trend and the code of the streets to start helping police in their investigations.
Crime Stoppers is anonymous and protected by the Supreme Court of Canada. Rappers of all ages and gender will be present at this news conference. Joan Newman will break her silence for the first time and will speak about the impact of the murder of her son Andrew Dowden who was scouted for BET’s “The Deal” a show featuring aspiring hip-hop artists. Newman will also talk about the need to modify the Federal Youth Offender Act. As previously said three youth offenders were arrested in the murder of her son Andrew who was riddled with bullets and dumped in the Humber river in July 2010. The news conference will take place 11.30am prompt at the corner of Dundas and Howland behind the bus stop where another homicide victim 18-year-old Jarvis St Remy was gunned down May 1st2009.
There have been no arrests in St Remy's murder. Rain, Snow or Shine, we’ll see you there. Bring your umbrellas! We thank all the members of the Canadian and US Local and National mediaplanning to cover this important story, Toronto Crime Stoppers,Toronto Police and the community for attending Ms Kemi Olunloyo’s press conferences. This news conference is hosted byHipHossip, Keminications Public Relations and The Kay Jeezy Kids Foundation (Kids mobilizing Toronto. Coming 2011)
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On The Net:
HipHossip.com-Canada’s Leading Music Blog
Keminications Public Relations
Kay Jeezy Kids Foundation (Coming 2011)
Toronto Police: Rappers Preach Peace
Toronto Sun: Cops enlist Rappers
Toronto Sun: Community needed in crime fight
KILLED BY A GUN IN THE TORONTO AND THE GTA IN 2010 (Compiled by Ms Kemi Olunloyo)
Tien Pham, 17
Chris Tshilombo, 17
Mitchell Celise, 17
Tyrell Duffus, 22
Kevin Williams, 33
Devonte Gonde-Prosper, 15
Vincent Wright 19,
Andrew Dowden 17
Adrian Ducas, 17
Kyle Clark, 20
DiAnthony Evans, 19
Yousouf Sulub, 25
Nate Thompson, 26
Byron Jones, 20
Nicholas Kenyon, 29
Darren McLean, 23
Randy Anthony Malcolm, 24
Jahmeele Spence, 27
Jerome Ellington, 25
Courtney Facey, 18
Mike James, 23 -Oct 3rd 2010
Sultan Dailey, 21 -Oct 3rd 2010
Jermaine Derby, 19 -Oct 9th 2010
Sealand White, 15 -Oct 9th 201O
Albert Kiwubeyi, 24 Oct 25th 2010
Donald "Don Kartel" Grant, 27 Nov 7th 2010
Tyrone Bracken, 16 November 17th 2010
Melvin Gomez, 24 November 21st 2010
William Nathanson, 19 November 22nd 2010
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