Africville reunion: Witness describes shooting as ‘warzone,’ community groups unite

Over a twelve Black organization organizations, arsenic good arsenic nan Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs, are uniting to connection support to anyone impacted by Saturday’s shooting astatine Africville reunion successful Halifax and to denounce weapon violence.

Four group successful their 20s and 1 teenager, each bystanders successful a crowd astatine nan yearly event, were caught up successful an speech of gunfire betwixt 2 men, police said Sunday. The shooting is believed to person been “targeted,” constabulary said, but it’s unclear whether nan intended target was injured. There is besides nary fishy accusation arsenic of Monday morning.

A statement issued by Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs Twila Grosse and supported by complete a twelve groups denounces nan weapon violence.

It stresses that nan organization of Africville and its erstwhile residents “are a awesome of nan resilience successful nan African Nova Scotian organization and religion and courageousness to flooded awesome obstacles” and that they will guarantee “its bequest and tone unrecorded connected and are not defined by a tragic event.”

Africville was settled successful nan 1840s and was a predominantly African “community for complete 150 years earlier nan City of Halifax razed and relocated nan organization betwixt 1964 and 1970,” a municipal website says. The yearly Africville Reunion provides an opportunity “to study astir Africville’s rich | history and proceed its legacy,” according to Discover Halifax.

The connection besides includes accusation astir a organization thief statement group up by nan Association of Black Social Workers for those seeking counseling and support successful nan aftermath of nan violence.

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“I americium profoundly saddened and concerned by nan incident that occurred during nan Africville Family Reunion, an arena that holds important value to our organization arsenic it celebrates nan rich | history and resilience of Africville,” Grosse wrote.

“Our thoughts are pinch nan families and individuals impacted, and we stay committed to supporting nan Africville organization during this difficult time. Let america proceed to grant nan bequest of Africville by fostering unity, strength, and resilience wrong our community.”

One attendee and erstwhile resident of Africville, Paula Grant-Smith, described a terrifying segment pinch bullets “flying each over.”

“This horrendous enactment took spot by nary erstwhile resident of Africville,” she said.

“We’re furious and we’re wounded and I americium livid that my grandchildren, my nieces and my nephews had to spell done that (Saturday) night.

“It was for illustration being successful a warzone.”